All Black flanker Adam Thomson sits in the sin bin after
being given a yellow card during the test against Scotland
in Edinburgh. Photo by Getty
Finally there is closure on the Adam Thomson saga - and
the All Black flanker will be available for selection to play
England next week.
The IRB appealed the findings of the independent judicial
inquiry that found Thomson guilty of standing on the head of
Scotland flanker Alasdair Strokosch at Murrayfield on
November 11. Thomson was handed a two-week suspension that
was reduced to one for his previous clean record and lack of
intent.
The IRB claimed the sentence was too lenient - but lost the
appeal, with the committee finding the initial judgement of a
two-week suspension to be in line with the recommendations
laid down by the governing body.
The committee agreed the act had been entry level, but they
upheld the IRB's contention that the initial sentence should
not have been cut in half, therefore meaning Thomson's ban
was extended to two weeks.
The All Blacks had withdrawn him for selection for both the
tests against Italy and Wales meaning the 30-year-old is
able, if required, to play against England.
The outcome will be of some relief to Thomson who is still
undecided about what he is doing in 2013. He did not want the
test against Scotland - where he was yellow-carded at the
time - to be his last.
The IRB, in a statement, welcomed the decision "to largely
uphold the IRB's appeal against the one-week sanction handed
down to Adam Thomson for trampling on an opponent's head.
"The IRB appealed the suspension believing it to be unduly
lenient for the particular act of foul play. The IRB has a
clear responsibility to ensure consistency of the application
of the disciplinary process as set out in regulation 17 to
protect the welfare of players at all levels."
- By Gregor Paul in Cardiff
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