Rugby World Cup star received a six-match suspension, after a tackle caused an opponent’s cheekbone to break.

One Rugby World Cup star’s appalling tackle has resulted in a significant ban.

Due to his head-on collision with France star Antoine Dupont, in which the fly-half suffered a fractured cheekbone, Namibia captain Johan Deysel was given a six-match suspension that could be reduced to five.
Deysel went to a hearing where his fate was decided, putting an end to his Rugby World Cup.

With only Uruguay remaining, Namibia, who has already lost to Italy, New Zealand, and France, will not advance to the next round.
However, they will be without their important captain for that match as World Rugby confirmed his six-match suspension.

After receiving online abuse for colliding with Dupont and receiving a red card, Deysel locked his accounts and apologized to the French captain.
I would like to send Antoine Dupont my best wishes,” he said.
Clearly, I had no malicious intent.

“Everything happened very quickly, and I was unable to move my head out of the way in time to avoid a head collision. I was immediately aware that I had broken the rules because I am familiar with them.
After the game, I spoke with Fabien Galthie, the head coach of France, and sent Antoine my best wishes and my sincere regrets, both directly and through the France team doctor.
“.

Having stated his intention to participate in the World Rugby Coaching Intervention Programme, Deysel will likely have his suspension reduced from six to five matches. The intervention teaches players better tackling technique and assists players in realizing their mistakes.

In accordance with a review by the Foul Play Review Official during Namibia’s Rugby World Cup 2023 Pool A match against France on September 21, Johan Deysel of Namibia “attended an independent Disciplinary Committee hearing for an offence contrary to Law 9.13 (dangerous tackle),” according to a statement from World Rugby.

“The independent Committee classified the act of foul play as being at the top end of the scale of seriousness of offending, taking into account the degree of recklessness involved in the offending, the vulnerability of the victim player, and the significant injury to him.
This was done after carefully weighing all the available evidence and the player’s and his representative’s arguments.
The independent Committee determined that the appropriate entry point is 12 matches by applying Appendix 1 to Regulation 17.

After taking into account all of the mitigating circumstances, such as the player’s disciplinary history, apology to the player, and admission of wrongdoing, the independent Committee reduced the sanction by a maximum of 50%.
“.