Queensland Reds lock Angus Blyth will miss just three Super Rugby Pacific matches for his late and dangerous tackle that concussed Brumbies wing Corey Toole.
During a recent Super Rugby clash, Blyth launched himself at Toole in an attempt to charge down a kick, but his ducked head collided with the winger’s chin.
Toole tried to bounce back up, but it was immediately clear that he was concussed as he wobbled around, before collapsing to the ground.
Blyth was initially yellow carded by referee Ben O’Keefe, a punishment upgraded to a 20-minute red card by the TMO under new Super Rugby laws.
Morgs explains the process behind the new Red Card policy for Super Rugby Pacific following Angus Blyth’s hit on Corey Toole ?
↳ Stream Between Two Posts on Stan & Stan Sport. New episode every Monday 7pm AEST.#StanSportAU #BetweenTwoPosts @seanny202 @MorganTurinui pic.twitter.com/m1vWiY3Vv5
— Stan Sport Rugby (@StanSportRugby) April 11, 2023
The 25-year-old appeared before a Sanzaar Foul Play Review Committee of Michael Heron KC (Chairman), Stefan Terblanche and John Langford.
The committee handed Blyth an initial six-week suspension, which was downgraded to three weeks, taking into account mitigating factors including the player’s clean judicial record and his guilty plea.
In their judgement, the panel said the tackle was “reckless, direct head contact was made and with high force”, but added that they believed it was not deliberate.
Blyth has been suspended from all forms of the game up to and including 6 May 2023.