Five more players banned in busy week for Match Review Panel

It has been a busy week for the Match Review Panel.

On Monday 17 charges were handed out to 15 Super League stars as well as three cautions after the fiery Easter clashes.

Then a tribunal deemed that Ava Seumanufagai of Leigh Leopards should avoid a ban as his charge was down graded whilst St Helens star Morgan Knowles and Warrington Wolves enforcer Gil Dudson were both hit with five match bans.

Now, Following the latest round of Betfred Championship, Betfred League One, Betfred Women’s Super League, Reserve, Academy and Scholarship fixtures, the Match Review Panel have issued the following sanctions:

Dane Manning (Batley Bulldogs) – Grade D Dangerous Contact – 2 Match Penalty Notice & a £125 fine
Alex Foster (Newcastle Thunder) – Grade C Dangerous Contact – 1 Match Penalty Notice
Mitch Clark (Newcastle Thunder) – Grade C Strikes with Forearm/Elbow – Ball Carrier – Reckless – 1 Match Penalty Notice
Josh Wood (Barrow Raiders) – Grade C Dangerous Contact – 1 Match Penalty Notice
Jasmine Bell (York Valkyrie) – Grade C Dangerous Contact – 1 Match Penalty Notice
Olly Odds (Swinton Lions) – Grade B Foul Language to the Match Official – £125 fine
Max Donbavand (Huddersfield Giants Academy) – Grade B Dangerous Contact – £25 fine

The following players were handed cautions:

Adam Tangata (Halifax Panthers) – Dangerous Contact
Rhiannion Marshall (York Valkyrie) – Other Contrary Behaviour

This comes after frustration for one Championship club.

Toulouse Olympique’s Lambert Balmas was handed a huge suspension of seven matches, following an investigation and tribunal hearing into an alleged Grade F attack to the testicles of a Bradford Bulls player during the 25 February Betfred Championship match at Odsal.

The tribunal took place last week.

The French side are one of the favourites for promotion but recently came up short against Sheffield Eagles.

They have suffered another blow with Olly Ashall-Bott out with an ACL.

This blow therefore only makes matters worse and the club are not happy about the verdict at all.

They released the following statement yesterday:

“Tuesday, April 4, Lambert Belmas, an international prop who has played for the club since the 2022 season, received a suspension of 7 games.

“Following the Bradford Bulls v Toulouse Olympique match on February 25, English full-back Tom Holmes called for an investigation into an “attack on the testicles” by the Toulouse prop during a scuffle.

“Lambert Belmas meanwhile maintained his innocence throughout the investigation.

“Despite a video that shows no gesture, the RFL disciplinary committee classified the alleged action as ‘Grade F’ and the federal court sentenced the Toulouse pillar to a 7-game suspension.”