SANZAR appeals Hooper rugby ban

A SANZAR Judicial Hearing has found Michael Hooper of Australia guilty of contravening Law 10.4 (a) Punching or striking after he was cited for alleged foul play during a Rugby Championship match at the weekend.

Hooper floored Argentina fly-half Nicolas Sanchez in the second half of last Saturday’s 34-9 victory in Mendoza, lashing out in response to Sanchez pulling his shirt.

The former Wallabies captain will be prevented from playing for his club Manly Marlins against Randwick this weekend but free to rejoin the Wallabies for the Rugby Championship decider.

The reprieve leaves Hooper available for Saturday week’s Rugby Championship decider against the All Blacks in Sydney, a massive showdown that doubles as the first of only two Bledisloe encounters in 2015.

Wallabies flanker Michael Hooper remains on tenterhooks after having his SANZAR judicial hearing adjourned on Wednesday night.

Judicial officer Nigel Hampton said in his finding that the flanker “had struck out at the opponent’s head and neck area with his open hand” and that Hooper’s affection for his club meant that missing the game was a punishment.

After leaving the hearing Hooper says it’s been a hard week to be honest, tough being left in limbo for so long but there’s a result there now. “Like I said, unhappy with it, but I’ll get on with it now and focus on the Bledisloe”. That’s important for Michael because the first thing he said to me was he’d never punched someone in his life on the footy field, it’s not his go.

Another draw at Sydney’s ANZ Stadium – like last year’s – would be good enough to secure a first southern hemisphere crown since 2011 as the Wallabies top the table on points differential over the world champion All Blacks.

“So that was noted that it was an open hand and I think that’s probably why the suspension given was at the very low end”.