Chasing kicks (Rosslyn Park view)

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   I like to have a browse of the disciplinary decisions on the RFU site to see what the panel is coming down on and there are already quite few in there but this one is a cracker 
  AddamsRosslynParkJudgmentSep21.pdf (englandrugby.com)

The RP argument seems to have been that if the other player who was taken in the air wasn't there then there wouldn't have been a tackle and therefore no offence

The panel said the following

We found the following:
1. The Player chased a box kick.
2. He showed an awareness of 2 opponent players by running and threading through them as
he chased the ball.
3 He ought to have been aware of the presence of his victim opponent. It was manifestly
obvious that he could have expected an opponent to have positioned himself to catch the ball.
4. The Player decided to pay no regard to whether there was such a player there.
5. In the Player's mind, his opponent "wasn't there."
6. In our judgement this was a grossly reckless and manifestly dangerous move. It is simply
unacceptable for a Player to say that his single mindedness is such that nothing and no one
else matters. He ought to have been aware iof his opponent. Had he done so, he would, as
countless others do, have stopped, waited for his opponent to complete his catch and then
lawfully tackle him in a recognised way.*
7. The effect of player's recklessness was that he charged into his opponent who had already
lifted into the air. He could not have been in a more vulnerable position.
8. The impact of this caused the victim to topple over and land, from height, directly onto his
head. 

* After we had delivered our decision, we were surprised that Mr Evans, who having expressed
himself as bewildered by our decision, asked what he was supposed to tell other players who
find themselves in such a position. Notwithstanding this highly unorthodox expression of
disapproval of our decision which we do not expect to ever be repeated, we should emphasise
that we are not a coaching advisory panel and that any need for learning ought to be directed at
others. Given the circumstances and the highly dangerous event in this case, we recommend
that the RFU makes contact with the Club to ensure that what has happened here is not
something that has resulted from a particular coaching technique. This should be done as
matter of urgency. Equally, we would urge the Club to reflect as to its own approach to these
proceedings

I think RP may be getting a knock on the door from the RFU to put them straight on this

Edited by Shamrose - 14 Sep 2021 at 16:17