STADE FRANCAIS AND former France second row Pascal Pape has been issued a warning over his ‘exaggerated fall’ to the ground in a Challenge Cup match against Edinburgh on Saturday.
The 120kg and 6ft 5in Pape dropped to the deck after receiving a slap to the face from Edinburgh inside centre Phil Burleigh 15 minutes into the second half, an incident which Burleigh was shown a straight red card for.
However, in an interesting response, the match citing commissioner, Ireland’s Eddie Wigglesworth, has warned Pape over his conduct which he said was in contravention of Law 10.4 (m) — Acts contrary to good sportsmanship.
Edinburgh, despite trailing 20-15 at the time of Burleigh’s dismissal, rallied to record a 28-23 win and continue their 100% record in the competition.
Burleigh, for his part, is due to face a disciplinary hearing later today to learn if he will face any further punishment for the slap.
You might also remember former France captain Pape for this knee to the back of Ireland No 8 Jamie Heaslip, which earned him a yellow card and later a 10-week ban, during the 2015 Six Nations.
Pape retired from international rugby after the 2015 Rugby World Cup with 86 caps to his name.
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Should have been handed a ban, if even a short one, to show world Rugby’s stance, and to really discourage future disgraceful shows such as this
@Aidan Bowen: Pity it was such an inexperienced ref. I agree he had to give the red card given the directive but if it was me I would have yellow carded Pape and reversed the penalty. Considering he got a warning it shows it was cardable.
This isn’t his first offence either. Remember during the last rugby World Cup when Sean O’ Brien tried to brush a little dirt from Pape’s jersey and he dropped like he had been punched in the gut?
Pape is some yoke. Do you know what he was supposedly doing to Sean O’Brien just before that? If it was me, I wouldn’t have been aiming for the gut.
We can talk. I’m no fan of Pape but Fez and Johnny Sexton have both had their Ronaldo moments. Sexton’s against the Welsh looking for a sin binning.
Mike McCarthy in the 2014 Pro12 final was another. It’s embarrassing to see it happen. Needs to be stamped out before it becomes part of the culture.
Supposedly? I have the still of him pinching/patting o briens arse.
He was doing worse than that. Trying to stick his fingers where the sun don’t shine. French fan told me he has form for it. Supposed to “psych out” the opponent. A far cry from manic aggression…
As a poster on another site said ”twas a pity the ref didn’t insist on mandatory HIA after his play acting, would have been some semblance of justice
Ref should have sent him for a HIA and then when he tried to come back on, yellow card him for gamesmanship.
#prayforpape
By the book, it was a strike and a red. Certainly sack of spuds thing but falling & feigning is creeping its way into rugby which is worrying. This guy should have had a ban, not a warning. That’ll stamp it out.
Pape???!!!!!! Pussy more like it.
As noted by Robert Kitson in his Sportsblog in yesterday’s Guardian yesterday Papé has a bit of a messed up backstory. “Born to an unknown father and a mother with significant drug issues, he was taken in by a foster family, battled bouts of depression and, as recently as 2013, wanted to commit suicide. What you see on the field is never the whole story.”
That still doesn’t exonerate him from his simulation at the weekend or that sly potential career ending knee in the back on Heaslip.
Makes no difference what his past or personal background is. Rugby does not need his type of player.
So Stupid from Burliegh… probably get a short ban for himself. This is the way the game is going,
it wont stop. Especially prevalent is the subtle art of turning in the tackle, Liam Williams is a master.