Connacht Rugby’s Bundee Aki will appear in front of an Independent Disciplinary Committee in relation to a Misconduct Complaint made against him under the URC Disciplinary Rules.
After the Round 10 BKT United Rugby Championship fixture on Saturday, January 24 at Dexcom Stadium, Galway, the Player is alleged to have engaged with the match official team on several occasions in a manner which may be deemed to be in breach of the league’s Disciplinary Rules related to Misconduct (including Clause 3.1, 3.2 and 3.3).
An Independent Disciplinary Committee will meet today (Wednesday, January 28) to consider the Complaint in accordance with the URC Disciplinary Rules. Roddy Dunlop KC (Scotland) will serve as Chair, with Attie Heyns (South Africa) and Andrea Caranci (Italy) completing the committee.
EDITOR’S NOTES
United Rugby Championship Disciplinary Rules
Clause 3.1
Without prejudice to any powers World Rugby has to investigate and/or sanction misconduct under World Rugby Regulations 6 and 18 or otherwise, any act or acts of Misconduct and/or the commission of any Anti-Corruption Offence(s) may result in disciplinary proceedings being brought and (where appropriate) sanctions being imposed on the Person(s) involved and/or his/her Club.
Clause 3.2
For the purposes of the Disciplinary Rules, “Misconduct” shall mean any act of Foul Play by a Player and/or any conduct, behaviour, statements (including, without limitation, statements made on social networking platforms) or practices by a Club and/or any of its Players, its other Persons or its supporters, on or off the Playing Enclosure, during a Match or otherwise, that is unsporting and/or insulting and/or that brings or has the potential to bring the sport of rugby union, the United Rugby Championship, other Clubs or Persons, match officials, one or more of the Unions and/or any sponsor or other commercial partner of the United Rugby Championship into disrepute and/or that is not in accordance with the competition’s Participation Agreement.
Clause 3.3 provides examples of “Misconduct” which includes the following:
While it is not possible to draw up a definitive and exhaustive list of types of conduct that may amount to Misconduct under these Disciplinary Rules, each of the following types of behaviour by a Club and/or its Players, its other Persons or its supporters is an example of (and constitutes) Misconduct under these Disciplinary Rules:
3.3.14: unsportsmanlike conduct before, during or after a Match (including making requests to Match officials that an opponent be penalised and/or Temporarily Suspended and/or shown a red card; making dishonest accusations of Foul Play against an opponent and/or feigning/exaggerating injury; making inappropriate and/or sarcastic gestures to an opponent and/or a Match official and/or spectators; and intimidating and/or exhibiting a lack of respect for Match officials and/or Pro Rugby Championship representatives, which will include Club medics, Club managers and Club coaches communicating (or attempting to communicate) with any of the relevant Match officials (including the television match official) at any point during a Match (unless invited to do so by the relevant Match official) and/or any Persons entering or attempting to enter the Match officials’ changing room(s), each in breach of clause 4.13 of the Championship Rules);
Please note: The above Clauses align with World Rugby’s regulations regarding Misconduct, specifically regulation 18.4 (b):Whilst it is not possible to provide a definitive and exhaustive list of the types of conduct, behaviour, statements or practices that may amount to Misconduct under these Regulations, by way of illustration, each of the following types of conduct, behaviour, statements or practices however or wheresoever undertaken are examples of and constitute Misconduct:
(b) acting in an abusive, insulting, intimidating or offensive manner towards referees, assistant referees, Citing Commissioners, members of Disciplinary Tribunals or other officials or any person associated with the Host Union, the Rugby Body or the Unions participating in the Match or spectators;
THE 2ND ROW 