Johnson ruling stirs up a storm

Chris Jones13 April 2012

The punch that has earned Martin Johnson a three-week ban and cost him the England captaincy against Wales at Twickenham on 26 March could have a fundamental effect on the sport.

The blow left Saracens hooker Robbie Russell requiring six stitches in his face and has now cost Leicester £13,500 in legal fees after David Pannick QC ruled at the appeal hearing at Twickenham that the Rugby Football Union was right to impose the ban despite Johnson receiving a yellow card.

Johnson will miss the Welsh match and two league games for Leicester.

England coach Clive Woodward said: "I accept the decision and, subject to availability, Neil Back will captain England against Wales."

Besides ruling Johnson out of a key Six Nations international, the ban will bring about change in the way the game handles disciplinary matters. Damian Hopley, the Professional Rugby Players' chief executive, believes the elite section of the game should now have its own rules.

Hopley said: "The decision has clearly indicated that there is an urgent need for a complete overhaul of the disciplinary rules and procedures. We believe it is crucial that from now on all parties accept that the professional game has a valid role in the redrafting of those rules.

"The interests and needs of the professional game are fundamentally different from those of the rest of the sport. It is imperative that we do not have a disciplinary procedure imposed on the elite game without any consultation from the participants."

A statement issued on behalf of Leicester and Johnson, who was not present at the hearing said: "There are no winners in this case and the game of rugby union stands to lose the most unless England Rugby undertakes a comprehensive review of the game's disciplinary process.

"The manner in which Martin's case has been dealt with has shown that certain structures are both inconsistent and illogical. We now call upon England Rugby to act immediately in meaningful consultation-with all relevant parties to replace what the RFU describes as a 'relatively informal disciplinary process' with a structure acceptable to players, referees and clubs alike."

Pannick QC, who made the ruling, admitted in his summing up: "The RFU may well now wish to consider amending paragraph 22.3 of the disciplinary procedures to define the circumstances in which such a charge may be brought, rather than leaving such matters to the discretion of the disciplinary officer (Robert Horner)."

Emerging from the hearing, Leicester chief executive Peter Wheeler admitted he was disappointed by the verdict. The former England hooker said: "The outcome has turned on its head what all of us in professional rugby believed the situation to be.

"Martin Johnson has always been a high-profile player. The disciplinary committee said the case wasn't brought because it was Martin Johnson but it is probably difficult to believe that. We always accepted the three-week ban but Martin is not a dirty player. The important thing was whether the RFU disciplinary officer can overrule a referee. It is a landmark judgment."

Johnson will return to club duty against Wasps at Loftus Road on Easter Sunday.

Meanwhile, Henry Paul will miss England's clash with Wales after being named in the squad for the Beijing and Hong Kong Sevens. The Hong Kong leg of the IRB World Sevens Series takes place the same weekend as England's Six Nations match.

Paul made an unceremonious debut for England in the 20-15 defeat to France last weekend.

Full-back Iain Balshaw is also in the Sevens squad.

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