Mohamed Haouas in training at Marcoussis. ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT / AFP
The right pillar of Montpellier, author of a head kick on Sunday, received a penalty of four matches, reduced to three if he follows the World Rugby tackle training program.
The mainstay of the XV of France, Mohamed Haouas, has been suspended for four matches by an independent disciplinary committee, following his header on Scottish scrum-half Ben White during a clearing, on the occasion of the 3rd day of the Six Nations Tournament. A sanction that could be reduced to three weeks if he follows the World Rugby tackle training program. The Montpellier player could therefore return to the field during the round of 16 of the MHR Champions Cup against the English from Exeter on April 2. He will nevertheless miss the last two matches of the XV of France in the Tournament (in England and against Wales), then the meeting against Perpignan in the Top 14.
The Six Nations Committee explained in a press release: “After considering all the evidence, the committee considered that, given the particular circumstances, it should apply World Rugby’s mandatory minimum entry point for playing fouls resulting in head contact. This resulted in a starting point of six weeks suspension. Having acknowledged that there were no aggravating factors and accepted the mitigating factors – including the player’s early acknowledgment that the incident warranted a red card, lack of intent and premeditation and clearly expressed remorse – , the Commission reduced the starting point of six weeks from two weeks, resulting in a penalty of four weeks.” And to specify that the sanction can be reduced by one week after having participated in the program which “aims to amend the specific techniques and technical issues that contributed to this foul.”
“It’s just a poorly controlled action with head-to-head contact”
Sunday at the Stade de France, it was the second time that “Momo” Haouas was expelled from the France team, a first for a tricolor international. On March 8, 2020, he received a red card for a punch on the Scottish Jamie Ritchie before halftime of the match, precipitating the defeat of his team at Murrayfield (28-17). At the time, he risked between 2 and 52 weeks of suspension. But the verdict was rather lenient since the Montpellier player had only been suspended for three weeks.
Read alsoXV of France: all the Blues in support of Haouas, after his expulsion against Scotland
After the victory against the XV du Chardon on Sunday, coach Fabien Galthié defended his right-hander, explaining that “For now“, he had “just want to encourage him, protect him» : «We want to help him. He is part of the team. There is not a player who experiences something different. He was in the team that led 19-0 against Scotland. The only thing I can tell you is that he is part of the team and we will protect him. We will accompany him. He’s going to be suspended for I don’t know how many games… I can’t judge.»
His teammate in Blue, the flanker François Cros, also wanted to play down this “fact of the game”. “It’s just a poorly controlled action with head-to-head contact, as we often see now. But we know that the referees no longer ask questions and it’s red right away, explained the Toulouse flanker. It’s a shame for him because going out on a red in selection is never easy. Again, it’s an unfortunate gesture and he was disappointed to have committed it…” This four-week suspension is a blow for him.