Exeter’s England forward Ethan Roots has been banned for three games after striking his “friend”, Gloucester hooker Jack Innard.
Roots hit his former Exeter team-mate while he was on the ground in the final moments of Sunday’s Prem game at Kingsholm.
The 28-year-old was given a 20-minute red card for the offence, which left Innard with a concussion.
He will miss Exeter’s European Challenge Cup semi-final at Ulster on Saturday as well as the meeting with Prem leaders Bath at Sandy Park and the game against Harlequins at Twickenham.
“We have no personal animosity at all,” Roots said in a statement to a Rugby Football Union disciplinary panel.
“To the contrary he is a friend and my brother who also plays for Exeter has rented his house since Jack joined Gloucester.”
Roots says his reaction came after Innard’s tackle came into contact with a calf injury that he had suffered during the second half.
Medics removed a piece of plastic and some rubber crumb from the synthetic surface from the wound, which required four stitches before he could return to the field.
“He came in very low and his shoulder came into contact with my leg exactly on the injury I had just received,” Roots added.
“This was very painful. I reacted by pushing my hand down on his head. It was not a strong hit and there was no closed fist or anything like that.
“I have tried to rationalise what happened, and why, and I have no idea what I was trying to do or achieve. It was a split second response to pain and frustration and I am very sorry for it.”
From a starting point of a six-game ban, the panel reduced it to three games due to Roots’ early admission of the charge, good disciplinary record and cooperation with the tribunal.
About the Author
