Two young Welsh rugby stars, Tom Cottle and Logan Franklin, have been handed bans, impacting their availability for the upcoming U20s Six Nations clash against England. The bans were a result of red cards received during the recent match against Scotland, where Wales faced a disappointing defeat in Edinburgh.
The bans come as a blow to Richard Whiffin’s team as they had their title hopes dashed following the defeat against Scotland. Cottle and Franklin both received red cards during the match, with Cottle’s ban lasting three weeks, while Franklin’s ban is set for one week. Cottle has the opportunity to reduce his ban to two weeks by attending tackle school.
The red cards were issued for separate incidents during the game. Franklin was sent off for a ‘croc roll’ on Scotland wing Nairn Moncrieff, while Cottle’s red card came after making contact with the head of Scotland scrum-half Noah Cowan. The referee described both incidents as having a “high degree of danger”.
Whiffin expressed his frustration with the enforcement of red cards for ‘croc rolls’, citing inconsistency in the decision-making process. Despite similar incidents occurring in other matches, Whiffin acknowledged the efforts to promote player safety but highlighted the need for more consistency in these rulings.
The disciplinary hearings for Cottle and Franklin were conducted remotely by a panel including Brenda Heather-Latu, Val Toma, and Martyn Wood. Cottle’s ban was announced a day after Franklin’s ban due to time zone differences. The bans were determined based on the severity of the infractions, with Cottle facing a longer ban due to the nature of his offence.
Despite the setbacks, Wales named their team to face England before Cottle’s ban was confirmed. Cottle is set to miss the upcoming match against England and further fixtures, while Franklin will only miss the clash with England. The disciplinary committee upheld Franklin’s red card, leading to a reduced one-week ban for the scrum-half.
The bans serve as a reminder of the importance of player discipline and safety in rugby. As Wales prepares for their final U20s Six Nations battle, they will have to make adjustments to their lineup due to the absence of Cottle and Franklin. The team remains focused on delivering a strong performance despite the absence of these key players in the upcoming crucial match.