Disciplinary Update – Nick Williams – suspended for 8 weeks.

On the night what i saw was a group of friends and work colleagues putting together the game and intensity and togetherness to achieve results. It just goes to show that our game has to perfect, exciting and innovative and rock solid in all areas. We look forward to seeing Nick in the Ulster Jersey again.

Nick Williams, the Ulster No 8, appeared today before an independent PRO12 Rugby Disciplinary Committee, following a citing for striking an opponent, under Law 10.4(a), in the Guinness PRO12 match between Ulster and Cardiff Blues on Friday, 27 March 2015.

The Disciplinary Committee, chaired by Roger Morris (Wales) along with Rhian Williams (Wales) and John Doubleday (England), having viewed footage of the incident and listened to representations made by and on behalf of the player, found that the incident was at the top end of the World Rugby sanctions for this type of offence, meriting a 16 week starting point. In the absence of any aggravating factors and in light of several mitigating factors, including the player’s exemplary previous playing record, the Disciplinary Committee applied a 8 week reduction from the entry point and suspended the player from playing for 8 weeks.

Taking into account the matches remaining this season, and two warm up matches scheduled for the start of next season, Nick Williams is free to resume playing from Monday, 1 September 2015 and has the right of appeal.

Law 10.4(a): Punching or striking. A player must not strike an opponent with the fist or arm, including the elbow, shoulder, head or knee(s).