While it's no secret that rugby officials are cracking down on high tackles with harsh bans, Poppy Cleall's suspension might be the first time we've seen a ban handed down for being on the receiving end of a high tackle.
Cleall who plays in the back row for Saracens received a yellow card for claiming 'that's a fucking high tackle' during her side's win over Leicester in their Premiership Women’s Rugby clash on Sunday, despite claiming it was merely an 'instinctive reaction' to the shock and pain of a high tackle.
Despite only receiving a yellow card on the day, an RFU disciplinary committee determined that the 2021 Six Nations player of the tournament's actions merited a red card and handed her a three-match ban with one match suspended, despite what seemed like an extremely reasonable defence from the backrow.
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This admittedly harsh ban raises even more questions about the route the laws of rugby are taking and fears that casual fans could be turned off by the number of technicalities and what some perceive to be the overbearing nature of these rules and bans.
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Poppy Cleall suspended for the use of foul language despite understandable defence
The ban means that Poppy Cleall will not only miss Saracen's next match with the Bristol Bears but also England's opening Women's Six Nations game against Italy.
Speaking in her defence, Cleall had a rather understandable excuse for her use of foul language, claiming that it was a heat-of-the-moment incident and an instinctive reaction to the shock and pain of a high tackle.
I accept that I said the word 'fucking'. However, this was an instinctive reaction after the shock of being hit in the face. I appreciate that there is never justification to use foul language on the rugby pitch, but I wish to make clear that this was not aimed at the referee or anyone in particular.
I hope that the panel can understand the feeling shock and pain following a moment of sudden impact.
Having just received a blow to the face...my exclamation of 'high tackle' was never intended to be questioning the referee but borne out of immediate frustration.
The ban follows a crack-down on match official abuse by the RFU in January which means an automatic addition of two weeks must be added to any suspension where a player is deemed to have abused an official.
However, the ban raises more questions about laws in rugby, with a number of controversial refereeing decisions leaving people like Ronan O'Gara criticising the number of laws in the sport and the ever-growing profile of referees during games.
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