Ebbw Vale second-row Curtis Gregory has been handed an eight-match ban for stamping on an opponent, a suspension reduced from an initial 15 games following an appeal. The incident, which occurred during a Super Rygbi Cymru fixture last month, drew widespread attention after video footage went viral on social media.
Incident and Initial Sanction
Gregory was shown a straight red card by referee Craig Evans for stamping on the leg of Llandovery captain Joe Powell. With a ruck in place, Powell briefly held Gregory's leg, prompting Gregory to stamp down on his rival's outstretched limb with considerable force. Fortunately for Powell, he appeared to escape without any visible injury.
The Welsh Rugby Union initially imposed a 15-match ban on Gregory, which was subsequently reduced to eight games following an appeal. The appeal was considered by an independent panel as part of the standard due process. Gregory's suspension will end just before Christmas, allowing him to return for Ebbw Vale's derby clash against Pontypool on Boxing Day.
Club and Wider Reaction
It is understood that Ebbw Vale took internal disciplinary measures against Gregory in the wake of the incident. The WRU does not publicly disclose details regarding its disciplinary proceedings, in contrast to other governing bodies such as the Rugby Football Union, which publishes its rulings and sanctions openly.
Similar stamping offences in rugby have also resulted in bans of comparable length, which is likely to have formed the basis of the appeal. Following the incident, video footage rapidly spread online and was viewed by millions across the globe, with major news outlets in South Africa and Australia running headlines on the story.
Online reaction has largely centred on the gravity of the offence, with many observers likely to feel that an eight-game ban does not go far enough. Some fans on social media had gone as far as calling for a lifetime suspension.
