| Case Number | ON/699/09 |
| Name | Jamie Jones-Buchanan |
| Club | Leeds |
| Shirt Number | 11 |
| Match | Leeds v St Helens |
| Competition | Super League |
| Date | 04/09/09 |
| Incident considered | Undue pressure on shoulder joint in 10th minute (Graham) |
| Decision | Charge |
| Details of Charge / Reason for NF | Law: 15.1 (i) Detail: Use of technique that placed undue pressure on shoulder joint Grade: C |
| Range of Recommended Sanctions in relation to Charged Grade* | 1-4 |
| Date of Disciplinary Committee | 08/09/09 |
| Evidence provided | Referees Report Touch Judge Report DVD |
| Decision On Charge | |
| Player plea | Not Guilty |
| Summary of CM's submissions on the Charge / evidence | Following a Match Review Panel meeting on 7 September 2009, the player was charged with misconduct for a breach of Law 15.1(i) during the above Match. The Panel reviewed an incident that occurred in approximately the 10th minute of the above Match. The Panel considered whether in tackling an opponent Jones-Buchanan had used a technique that placed undue pressure on the shoulder joint of an opponent. The Panel believed that Jones-Buchanan used the shoulder and arm of his opponent as a lever to attempt to push the player onto his back. The Panel were also concerned that the use of the players shoulder and arm in this manner was unnecessary, as the tackle had been completed and his opponent was in a vulnerable position. The Panel were concerned that when Jones-Buchanan has a lock on the arm of Graham, and Graham is tackled to the ground in a vulnerable opposition, the use of the arm as a lever to force graham onto his back exerts undue pressure on Graham’s shoulder joint. The Panel believed that this tackle had the potential to cause an opponent injury. In accordance with the RFL’s On Field Sentencing Guidelines, the Panel consider that such offence is a Grade C offence (used a technique that placed undue pressure on the joint of a player – shoulder). |
| Summary of Player's submissions on the Charge / evidence | Brian McLennan - on behalf of the player. Brian would disagree with the fact that the opponents arm has been used as a lever. He feels that Jamie has used his opponents hip and 'core' to try and turn his opponent onto his back. The referee had not signalled that the tackle was complete which is why Keith Senior and Jamie tried to roll the opponent onto his back. Jamie and Keith are trying to hold the player up and stop him getting a quick play the ball. There is no possible way to turn the player onto his back by pulling him over therefore Jamie must have used his weight around the hip area to drive his opponent over. Jamie - this is the first time he's been called before the disciplinary and has never missed any games through suspension. He had no intention other than to tackle his opponent but found it difficult to get him on his back. Jamie understood a chicken wing would be to thread your arm through your opponents arm and doesnt feel he has done this. There is nothing other than James Grahams own legs which are stopping him from rolling over. The contact was chest to shoulder and James Graham was trying to push onto his front and was himself partly to blame for causing the strain upon his joint. |
| Decision | Guilty |
| Reasons for Decision | There is clear evidence to us that you were using your opponents arm and forcing it back against his shoulder to turn him over. |
| Decision On Sanction (where found to have committed Misconduct) | |
| Summary of CM's submissions on the appropriate sanction | |
| Summary of Player's submissions on the appropriate sanction | Playing for a long time at the top level - only ever had a sin bin on his record. To turn a player over their limbs are going to become a part of the movement but not to an extent where it becomes dangerous - there was no intent to injure the player. |
| Aggravating Factors | |
| Mitigating Factors | Excellent record - played internationally and never had any other incident or anything similar. |
| Reasons for Decision | It is to your credit that for many years you have never been sent off or appeared before the disciplinary. This type of incident is creeping into the game and we must make it clear that it is not acceptable therefore this must be marked by way of suspension. |
| Suspension | 1 match |
| Fine | £300 |
| Warning | |