Gil Dudson learns his fate following Grade E punching charge

Gil Dudson has been found guilty of his charge of punching and subsequently banned for five matches by the Operational Rules Tribunal.

A statement from the RFL confirmed the news.

“Forwards Gil Dudson (Warrington Wolves) and Morgan Knowles (St Helens) have both been suspended for five matches by tonight’s independent tribunals. 

“Dudson was referred to tribunal by the Match Review Panel on a Grade E charge of punching a Catalans Dragons opponent during Saturday’s Betfred Super League match in Perpignan. He is also fined £500.”

Dudson was making his return to the Gilbert Brutus and saw red for the second consecutive game there when he was sent off after striking Tom Johnstone in the second-half.

Last season in Catalans’ play-off loss to Leeds Rhinos he was also sent off, and his ban extended through the World Cup.

This five game ban is larger though and reflects the act of punching Johnstone who lay defenceless after being tackled and held.

 For his Grade E charge he could have been banned for up to six matches but the Operational Rules Tribunal handed the Welshman a five match ban instead.

As well as Dudson, Morgan Knowles was also hit with a five game ban for his tackle on Mike Cooper for which he was hit with a Grade D dangerous contact charge.

The RFL statement said: “The Match Review Panel had referred Knowles on a Grade D charge of dangerous contact with a Wigan Warriors player during the Good Friday derby at the DW Stadium. He too is fined £500.”

The other case that the tribunal heard was that of Leigh’s Ava Seumanufagai who appealed his one match suspension and was successful in doing so, successfully getting his charge downgraded from B to A and his one match ban cancelled and instead fined £250.