Rugby videos of tackles, tries, funny incidents and more: Julien Candelon's reckless tackle on Lee Dickson

Tuesday, May 03, 2011

Julien Candelon's reckless tackle on Lee Dickson

One of the big talking points of the second Heineken Cup semi final, Northampton Saints against Perpignan, was the dangerous tackle that Julien Candelon made on Lee Dickson in the first half.

Saints, who convincingly won the match 23-7 to progress to the final, had just scored a try through Jon Clarke. From the restart things got worse for the visitors, as Candelon took scrumhalf Lee Dickson out in the air as he got under the high ball.

Dickson landed really badly, on the side of his neck and shoulder and despite receiving treatment and staying down for some time, was okay eventually and played on.

Candelon was promptly shown a yellow card, and was perhaps lucky to receive just that. Another interesting aspect of what went on though was the Saints medic, who came charging on to help, but barged through Candelon in the process, nearly sparking further chaos.

If you listen to the assistant ref you can hear him saying that he felt the medic did it deliberately and should be spoken to by ref George Clancy. Unfortunately Sky switched to a replay and the commentators were talking, so we couldn't hear or see exactly how Clancy dealt with it.

Amidst the pushing and shoving, there was also a fairly out of order moment when Perpignan lock Rimas Alvarez Kairelis pulled the touchjudge by the arm, something that just didn't look right. A point on that though, is that officials have whistles and flags for a reason. Blow them and wave them, but getting in the middle of a forward pack that's about to kick off isn't too smart.

Time: 03:17

Nasty. Great teckers by the medic though... ;-)

By Ian M, at May 03, 2011 11:22 am
TJ's talking a lotta crap there though. The medic's only job is to keep his player safe, and he did that. A deliberate shoulder charge into the winger from behind would have floored him.

What I don't get is how that's worthy of the TJ referring to the ref, but being manhandled by the #4isn't. Really nasty to see - let's leave that to the footballers.

By Ian M, at May 03, 2011 11:28 am
haha the medic!!

By Anonymous, at May 03, 2011 11:28 am
What is that MEDIC doing??

By Cheis, at May 03, 2011 11:31 am
you can hear the ref saying to the medic:

"you will hear more of this, now back you go"

By Cheis, at May 03, 2011 11:34 am
these often look worse than they are, as the commentators realise and back track a little when they see the replay, he jumped when candelon was about a yard away and he did try to pull out.

By mat, at May 03, 2011 11:38 am
It's just a shame it wasn't Dylan Hartley going for the ball...

By Anonymous, at May 03, 2011 11:39 am
Oooo, nasty looking landing.

Medic looked deliberate.

Lock pulling the touch judge looked like football.

By Anonymous, at May 03, 2011 11:43 am
Should've been red really. Very dirty indeed. Commentator is wrong about him trying to pull out - look at the replay at 2:50 where he moves towards Dickson. I appreciate Candelon was moving fast and it may be hard to change direction at that speed but he could see Dickson was going up at that point and DID change direction towards him.

I agree 100% with both points Mr Dump makes in the last paragraph of the intro:
"Amidst the pushing and shoving, there was also a fairly out of order moment when Perpignan lock Rimas Alvarez Kairelis pulled the touchjudge by the arm, something that just didn't look right. A point on that though, is that officials have whistles and flags for a reason. Blow them and wave them, but getting in the middle of a forward pack that's about to kick off isn't too smart."

Very important that both these footballesque elements are not allowed to creep into rugby.

By Von, at May 03, 2011 11:45 am
Not really sure what Candelon was doing. He clearly changed direction to run towards Dickson and made absolutely no attempt to jump, but instead just took the player. I think he's lucky with just a yellow. Commentators got it wrong saying he's pulling out...his first intention was to take Dickson, then probably realised that he would be penalised.

And not entirely sure why the TJ reported the medic. He's just seen his player fall neck first into the ground, so of course he'll want to get to him as fast as possible. If I was the medic, I would have pushed my own player if he was in the way faced with that same situation. TJ got the report wrong, and probably should have reported 4 for pulling him out the way.

By Luke G, at May 03, 2011 11:48 am
He's lucky to get off with a yellow. I've got no idea what the commentators (and Mat) are smoking. Candelon didn't take hid eyes off the guy and turned into the tackle as Lee Dickson was leaving the ground.

By Anonymous, at May 03, 2011 11:55 am
How this was not a red card, I have no idea. Candelon should receive a ban for a fairly long time

This was utterly deliberate to the extent that he actually changes direction towards Dickson as he sees Dickson go up for the catch

Disgusting and its only through the grace of god that Dickson is not confined to a wheelchair today

As for the medic, think he was trying to get to Dickson as quickly as possible but am also sure he wasn't exactly unhappy that he had to barge Candelon out the way. Mind you, you can also see him pushing a Northampton player in his rush to get there

Number 4 deserves punishment as well. No need for that kind of disrespect towards the officials

By Paolo, at May 03, 2011 11:56 am
Yeah, let's get the bloody frog out of the pitch for a year or two hahaha so glad everytime one of those f*** frenchies do stupid things like this and get sent off!!!

WTF are French and Italian clubs allowed in Heinekken Cup? They're just bad tempered and know no rugby! all they do is buy expansive SH players and shout at the ref

By Anonymous, at May 03, 2011 12:02 pm
number 4...seriously dissapointing. shouting at the ref is bad enough but manhandling him like that? not on. i think the touch judge was slightly rattled by it, thats why he brought up the medic and not number 4 to the ref

By stirling, at May 03, 2011 12:22 pm
*warning - do not feed the troll*
Anonymous said...
Yeah, let's get the bloody frog out of the pitch for a year or two hahaha so glad everytime one of those f*** frenchies do stupid things like this and get sent off!!!

WTF are French and Italian clubs allowed in Heinekken Cup? They're just bad tempered and know no rugby! all they do is buy expansive SH players and shout at the ref

By Troll Police, at May 03, 2011 12:42 pm
Red card

By Anonymous, at May 03, 2011 12:42 pm
1. Straight red.
2. Medic action was deliberate. He should not be involved in that. No punishment needed but a warning will do. We can not get these guys involved as well.
3. Probably the worst thing imo. Just
and everything rugby does not stand for.

By Anonymous, at May 03, 2011 12:46 pm
WOW. Definitely a red card.

Rugby is a beautiful sport where you can pound out your aggression and fully utilise your strength in a way different to almost all other games. That wasn't utilising a strength; that was being a coward and a c*nt (excuse my language).
I hope for everything rugby stands for that he is banned for a long long time.

On a side note, the medic is only just within his rights but nothing came of it so it doesn't really make any difference. As someone said above, he probably would have done the same to his own team mate (possibly with a little less force). #4 should definitely get a talking to, though it does sound like tempers were glaring throughout the game so maybe a bit of lee way can be given.

By Tom, at May 03, 2011 12:51 pm
*flaring

By Tom, at May 03, 2011 12:51 pm
glad im not the only one who thought that should have been a striaght red shocking timing

glad he was alright different team when he plays saints need another good scrum half for next season the other 2 not up to scratch

difficult decision now do i travel all the way from netherlands for the final
come on saints

By rene froger, at May 03, 2011 12:54 pm
Good to see Hartley protecting Dickson when the pushing is going on. Not sure that would have happened a couple of years ago. Good man.

By Anonymous, at May 03, 2011 1:02 pm
He never tried to pull out and he was never competing for the ball.

What he gave was effectively a spear tackle - except from higher. More deserving of censure than many of the 'tip' tackles that result in players being suspended.

By RememberTheMer, at May 03, 2011 1:21 pm
it should have been yellow card. what a jerk. he could have got a nasty injury or brake is neck. if i was playing next to him he wouldn't be spared in any tackle

By Online game, at May 03, 2011 1:22 pm
Really nasty play (from a greater player by the way). Yellow card is fair.
But I hope that the medic will be cited for waht he did.

By Anonymous, at May 03, 2011 1:23 pm
1. Candelon -- straight red, although in the heat of the moment and w/o the benfits of TMO, I could see the referee going yellow.

2. Medic -- should have been excused from the match for the day. All he was doing was trying to exavt some rugby justice. The "need" to get to his player ASAP was a red herring -- the guy was only 10m away. This is not some ticking time bomb Jack Bauer "24" thing.

3. Rimas Alvarez Kairelis -- yellow or red for putting hands on the ref.

4. French, Argentinean (and Lithuanian for that matter) rugby players everywhere -- a straight 4-6 week ban from rugby -- thanks to the xenophobes marching on this webpage (see #3).

By cheyanqui, at May 03, 2011 1:37 pm
LEINSTER! LEINSTER! LEINSTER!

By Anonymous, at May 03, 2011 1:42 pm
Good call. I know people will call for the red and maybe a ban but I think if he was a split second early, and got him just a couple of inches higher, they'd be nothing in it.

It looks horrible because he catches his hip on a strange angle as he rises.

I don't believe the tackle was malicious, but definitely reckless and a yellow.

If you were in a court of law you could make a real argument in Candelons defence. In my opinion.

By Chris, at May 03, 2011 1:46 pm
Physio should be held completely accountable for what he did. Obviously the tackle was outrageous but surely you cannot take the law into your own hands. Just look what happened in the fil 'Waterboy'

By Anonymous, at May 03, 2011 1:58 pm
^Chris,
I think Candelon was indeed reckless. Given how reckless he was, I think "pulling out" is insufficient protection (that's what SHE said) from a red.

At some point, Candelon bears responsibility.

It's more honest to catch the player and carry him than it is to submarine him and then putting your hands up saying "who, me?"

By cheyanqui, at May 03, 2011 1:58 pm
^-- a nod to Steve Carell's last appearance on the US's "The Office"

By cheyanqui, at May 03, 2011 1:59 pm
Should have been a red, you can see him step into the hit after Dickson had taken off, similarly no effort to soften the hit at all. Stupid petty and dangerous.

As for the medic, I think it was more of a case of if he doesnt get out the way i'll go through him...you can understand him being a little wound up as he was potentially going to be treating a serious neck injury!

Grabbing the TJ, no excuse, we dont need that kind of behaviour creeping into the game.

By Anonymous, at May 03, 2011 2:04 pm
Is touching the ref a straight red? What about TJ.. I think so. No. 4 deserves a red.

By gf, at May 03, 2011 2:20 pm
I seem to remember something in a world cup match with England a while back. Think it was Cueto tackled in the air. That would've only been a yellow if the player involved hadn't then started fighting Moody...

I think this tackle is a yellow only, but with a severe talking to from the referee.

As for the medic - who cares, it was only a little shove and from his angle the landing probably looked horrific.

Touching the touchjudge is foolish, but was all in the heat of the moment. Ref should have words to say hands off and penalty against/10m march forwards.

By Anonymous, at May 03, 2011 2:20 pm
A deserved and right yellow card
At the first sight, i thought it could have been worse because dickson fell very badly on his shoulder. Red could have been easily given without too much scandal.
But the replays showed that Candelon was also quite surprised by what he did, so not so intentional at the second look.

I think this incident was fully conditionned with the second saints try which was coming from a candelon knock-on. I think Candelon was very frustrated and "out of the match" after that. it could explains his silly run on dickson.

On a side note, the climax of this game was trully detestable between a very nervous perpignan side and a northampton team full of talents but also full of provocators.
Ashton, Hartley and Myler were constantly lookin for shit with perpignans lads. The back push of the saints medic was a perfect example.

Provocations are for soccer and the Real-Barça classicos. i really prefered the respect showed by toulouse and leinster

By Colombes, at May 03, 2011 2:21 pm
Dangerous tackle in the air => red card required for Candelon.

Medic => 4 week ban

Perpignan lock holding touch judge => 2 week ban

Let's get some order in the court!

By moddeur, at May 03, 2011 2:36 pm
If someone drops their shoulder into someone to do them some damage, no matter how minor, you will see them look at who they just ran into to see the result of the collision. The medic's gaze does not even flicker towards the Perp 11. No malice there, he just wanted to get to the injured player quickly.

By Anonymous, at May 03, 2011 2:39 pm
^
Agree with Moddeur
That winger is a stupid idiot and deserves a long ban

the medic's actions were uncalled for and he needs at least a talking to

The players should NEVER handle a referee, rugby is a gentlemen's sport and referee deserves respect

By Anonymous, at May 03, 2011 2:49 pm
@ Colombes

Jumping on the 'Northampton are just a bunch of thugs' bandwagon eh?

If anything Myler doesnt stand up to the opposition enough so just naming random players doesnt really fly. Hartley was the perfect balance of confrontation and discipline and didnt lose his rag once. Watch the clip of dickson. Most teams would have kicked off and rightly so. I dont see any of Sains 'thugs' going overboard dealing with the incident. The master 'thug' even protects dickson on the ground and pats a disgruntled perp second row on the back after its all finished. This view of Saints being a dirty team is getting rather boring.

By ORB, at May 03, 2011 2:56 pm
^Rather boring for saints supporters. Many others are seeing them for what they are

By Anonymous, at May 03, 2011 3:07 pm
Rugby league player touches ref -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ByGMrrxYTs

By gf, at May 03, 2011 3:21 pm
The fact that some Saints players live on the edge is a correct one. A team cannot be successful without these players. HOWEVER my problem is with people claiming that Saints are a dirty team when they know full well that other teams are behaving in the same manner. Take Cardiff for instance, people moaned about Hartley's antics but ultimately Richie Rees was cited for contact with the eyes. Its hypocrisy of the highest order.

By ORB, at May 03, 2011 3:24 pm
Medic was delibrate and good luck to him. The other 14 players should have joined in. Touch judge is pathetic having an issue with this. Guy takes someone out in the air he should be left to deal with the consequences.

By Anonymous, at May 03, 2011 3:37 pm
Red red red and a 3 months ban

By Anonymous, at May 03, 2011 3:39 pm
He should have been giver a red!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4bKDHTbVww

By Anonymous, at May 03, 2011 3:40 pm
- Straight red, shoulder charge straight into him as he is on the high ball. There was no attempt to pull out, cynical and he is lucky to not have the guilt of disabled Dickenson to think about this week.
- Number 4. should be cited for bringing the game into disrepute, at least a one match ban to stop this silly lack of respect for Ref´s.
- Medic is doing his job, when a guy falls on his neck seconds matter, number seven stops Perpingnons players from walking all over him. Clancy is right to tell him to cop on but that should be it.

By Alistair, at May 03, 2011 3:43 pm
completely lost my faith in this website.so many good things happening southern side of the hemispehere and you dont show anything. maybe people do wanna see highlights of games they missed and some more diversity please instead of making money off the minuscule amount of effort that seems to be going on here. footy tube is fantastic for football just to bad i lvoe rugby and some people work in different countires on a friday or saturday and cant get to watch these games because of time difference or unavailability. thinking of making my own site ruggytoob.net with the aim to post highlights of all the games we can get our hands on. regardless of copyright and stuff people should be allowed to watch their favorite teams and the best bit of each game with short and long highlights of each game available. dont delete this rugbydump as im sure you will but hopefully many people will see this and if youre up for watching some quality videos with some decent highlights then say so, im at uni with naught shit to do and ill try my hand at making a decent website, rugbydump is so cluttered and not well put together. but seriously 5 minutes of highlights for two shitty tries leinster/toulouse and then you dont even have any of the crusaders or reds tries... pfffffffthetic

By Dean Morbinson, at May 03, 2011 4:43 pm
to ORB,

I've certainly hurt your fan soul.
have i said saints are all thugs? Nop.
Perpignan have some hot-blood thugs with le corvec, alvarez-kairelis or Villaseca and they don't think twice for knock u out

I just quote the provocative behaviour of certain players (Hartley and Ashton) who often put oil on the fire and taunt the opponents for any stupid reason.

More generally, this new generation of english players recall me the 1990 one with guys like Moore, Carling or Dooley who were specialists of the obscure work.
This 2010 generation seems to repeat the tradition. shame because they have some talents to show off ;)

By Colombes, at May 03, 2011 4:46 pm
Anonymous said:
WTF are French and Italian clubs allowed in Heinekken Cup? They're just bad tempered and know no rugby! all they do is buy expansive SH players and shout at the ref

Because the french created this competition with italian, romanian, wales and north irish. Irish and English are only invited

By Anonymous, at May 03, 2011 5:02 pm
Disgrace red card surely??

By Anonymous, at May 03, 2011 5:42 pm
If that guy manhandled the referee he would've been sent off, like this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ByGMrrxYTs

By Anonymous, at May 03, 2011 6:08 pm
As the French supporter: Candelon really diserved a red card. His action was really dangerous an stupid.

But the medic's action was really stupid too.

In my opinion Red for Candelon and Red for the medic :D.

By Anonymous, at May 03, 2011 6:24 pm
*idiots

By Leeners93, at May 03, 2011 6:34 pm
What an awful series of events.

Bullshit about Candelon trying to pull out. A simple duck would've sufficed if that were the intention. Yellow card fine, wouldn't have complained about a red (any more than I don't really like seeing reds in any case, that is).

Medic was an idiot. Shouldn't have been involved in it...but what can the ref really do, card him? He's lucky he didn't cause a brawl.

I would've really liked to have seen Kairelis carded for yanking the TJ. Or at least reduced to a child through a good yelling at by the referee. You simply don't touch the officials, ya asshole. What a clown.

And Dean Morbinson, there's a "request" section, you know. If you don't have the ability to navigate there, I'm not sure how you'll be apt enough to make your own website. But hey, good luck to ya. More rugby sites is certainly not a bad thing.

By i love bacon, at May 03, 2011 6:49 pm
IMO Candelon did think that the player wasn't going to jump. His legs were bent and he looked like he was just going to receive the ball, but then he jumped. That can explain the horrible timing of Candelon, I think.

By D0m3, at May 03, 2011 7:11 pm
@ Colombes

To be fair mate I know you didnt call ever Saints player a thug. Its the fact you singled out Myler (who is probably the least confrontational player Saints have) made me think you were just lumping all the players together. Its a trend in Europe to call Northampton a dirty team this season, started after the Cardiff pool games earlier in the tournament when Cardiff felt hard done by.

If you want to see the hypocrisy im talking about look at the comments made on rugbydump's newest vid, O'brian puching Nyanga. O'brian is made out as some sort of hero and most said it would be a massive injustice if he were cited. If Hartley had done the same as O'brian how many would people would have calling Hartley a thug?

Its the double standards that iv got no time for.

By ORB, at May 03, 2011 7:28 pm
haha that's bloody cowardly by the medic. that's the only time he'd probably have a go at a professional rugby player. dick.

By Anonymous, at May 03, 2011 7:31 pm
Send him off for that. No argument, malicious or not he needs to be punished or he'll make the same mistake again. If he's not good enough to get the timing right then he should know that he can't try it or he'll get a red or break someone's neck and get a red.

By King, at May 03, 2011 7:46 pm
Candelon was pretty lucky to get away with a yellow there I feel. Just looks like he lost his cool a bit. Some angles look like he is pulling out, others look like its intentional. Either way, players need to make more effort to avert this kind of situation.

Whats more - Number 4 should def have got a yellow for man handling the TJ. Like someone said earlier - leave that to the footballers.

By Anonymous, at May 03, 2011 8:25 pm
ORB: 'O'brian is made out as some sort of hero and most said it would be a massive injustice if he were cited. If Hartley had done the same as O'brian how many would people would have calling Hartley a thug?'

Don't be a tit!

This is exactly the same sort of stuff as England supporters saying they hope Chris Ashton drops the ball when he swan dives one day...

Hartley is a fat tool... However I'd never wish any player to be cited for striking someone holding them back in a key area like that!!!

I'd make a comment like "hartley is such a fat tool, however Im sick of players holding back others at the breakdowns etc, id like them punished not the player who struck out!"

I think anybody calling hartley a thug if he had done what o'brian did would need to follow it up with 'but its fair enough here' or something like that, otherwise i'd ignore them and they would just be a troll...

By (u-p)rick, at May 03, 2011 10:14 pm
Come off it pal. Ever since Hartley got done for gouging people have been jumping the gun to condem him. Many accused Hartley of thuggery when Rees got bl**dy cited for having a root around his eye socket, let alone if he punched another player. Held back or not.

I wish the scenario you describe would be the case but it simply wouldnt with many supporters.

By ORB, at May 03, 2011 11:18 pm
ORB the only problem with your statement is the fact that I am a second row and Im well aware what holding onto people at the breakdown can do!

Im well aware of losing my temper when being held back and im well aware of causing people to lose their tempers by doing so...

So the problem with your statement is no matter who it was, i'd always back the guy who gave a clout after being held.... simple as...

I think people just think Dylan hartley is a fat wanker... I dont think they're going to call him a thug and if they are then its just McCaw fan boys who believe he should not be touched... and sure, that forearm drop thing was pathetic and idiotic.. thuggery?!? idk, i guess perhaps...

Smacking someone holding you back is never thuggery..

Would you call POC a thug for hitting Thomas? would you call O'brien a thug for hitting Nyanga? would you call troncon a thug for hitting stringer? I personally wouldnt to all the above, therefore the fact I love rugby and my eyesight is good enough to look passed the nationality of a player i would not call hartley a thug if he behaved in the same way!

By (u-p)rick, at May 04, 2011 12:37 am
Can't blame the medic for anything. He comes running in full throttle and Candelon is basicly shoved into his path.

Candelon can have a heavy punishment imho. Very dangerous play, he took a big risk by doing this. And, considering the scoreline, probably out of frustration.

And please, please cite number 4. He makes such a bad example with this behaviour.

By Guy, at May 04, 2011 12:45 am
ANGRY MEDIC IS ANGRY

lol

By Anonymous, at May 04, 2011 1:03 am
Yellow card would probably be the right ruling. Even a penalty.

All O'Gara got for doing the eact same thing on the Lions tour was a penalty.

Didn't hear anyone complaining then.

By Jono, at May 04, 2011 9:02 am
bloody filthy frogs, never short of bad tricks.

By Anonymous, at May 04, 2011 12:39 pm
@rick

you obviously havent been to wales enough haha.

Your stance is a good one but unfortunaley not one that is shared by most supporters.

By ORB, at May 04, 2011 1:39 pm
@ORB

I guess thats kind of the problem. I wasnt trying to cause an argument with you I just simply feel anyone that doesnt have a neutral view towards all of these types of things merely focuses on their nationality and always holds them in favour.

Ofcourse I support my nationality, and the home clubs within that nationality.... And I guess in some ways I support my Hemisphere. So ofcourse in most matches there is always someone i WANT to win more than the other. In some ways thats what I like about Englands commentator Brian Moore, or at least in the clips i've seen him in because you can tell he is passionate about England but is the first to criticise poor play. The same with Jonathon Davies too.

I just cannot see why anyone could possibly support say for instance gouging if its their team, and hate it if its on their team...

By (u-p)rick, at May 04, 2011 2:35 pm
Haha Candelon is a smart geezer. That charged up Perpignan more (who were fairly terrible) and threw the Saints off their game. Rest of the game was closer. Good to see Dickson was OK though.

By urboottourownfaceouch, at May 04, 2011 4:46 pm
That was a red card offense. Even if he did try to pull out, once he had his legs wrapped up he could have held on and tried to guide the guy back to the ground, instead he carried on and took his legs out ensuring there was no way he was going to land safely. And the medic, he was trying to get to the player by the quickest route so ummm...eh.

By Marc B, at May 04, 2011 7:14 pm
Update: Candelon's case will be examined on May 11 (previously planned for May 6).

Does it mean the ERC deliberately chose to let him play the last Top 14 game on Saturday (Perpignan not being qualified for the playoffs) before suspending him while he is on holidays?

One more proof for my fellow French citizens that they should stop whining about the IRB and ERC being harsh on us...

By Threma, at May 04, 2011 10:23 pm
UP RICK,

Are you trying to say Brian Moore is biased for or against England? Because all he does all game every game is slag his own team off.

By Aloof, at May 04, 2011 10:55 pm
Aloof im saying he is biased against england and that is what i like about him...sometimes his pride and nationality get the better of him. however when england play well he credits them, when they play badly he highlights bad play...

i.e as much as he was an english player he remains pretty damn neutral...

thats what i appreciate...

i try to remain neutral most of the time because it means i appreciate more of the game.. it means i can watch people like JW in an England jersey and go 'yeuup hes a good player' even if i dont support him, likewise with carter/mccaw/matfield/parisse etc etc etc...

By (u-p)rick, at May 05, 2011 12:39 am
That could have gone either way in my opinion red or yellow and either card is probably justified based on how the referee saw and interpreted the hit.

As for the medic, he may well have come in harder than he needed to but in the case of what looked like it was going to be a serious neck injury I think it was perfectly justified, and I think everyone would be looking at this very differently if it had resulted in the end of a very talented players career as it very well could have.

While we are on that point the behavior by the Perpignan team was inexcusable, firstly the #4 should absolutely not be handling any official in that we, heat of the moment or not, it is just not excusable. And lastly in a situation as serious as that all players should know to back away from the injured player and leave the medics to do there job. A fight there with a player who already has a spinal fracture, if someone fell or tripped on to the player could cause serious further injury or paralysis.

By Anonymous, at May 05, 2011 9:03 am
A very similar incident happened in the rugby league game last night. No push and shove, no yellow card, no standing around for 3 mins, no rolling on the ground by the 'injured' player.

Rugby is getting more and more like football. It's a shame.

By don'tcare, at May 07, 2011 12:20 am
Yes Candelon is a bit lucky with a yellow.

The medic clearly new what he was doing, he could have been a bit more clever in his reaction (which was the case of most of the Saints players).

Candelon is not a nasty player (there is far worth in Perpignan squads as already mentioned by Colombes) and I believe there was no intention to hurt Dikson but still that should not be an excuse and he deserved to be cited and to spend few weeks on the sideline.

Candelon, like most of the Perpignan team, was out the game since the start. Looking at his face on the bench, said enough

Most important, it was nice to see Dickson back on his feet.

By Flipje, at May 08, 2011 2:01 pm
Wow don'tcare, thats probably the first time leagies haven't had a punch up about something then isnt it...

By Anonymous, at May 08, 2011 10:59 pm
Clear Red - reckless, and highly dangerous.

Bad call by the officials - TJ has to call that red if the ref has not picked up the true nature of the incident.

If NH wing had rotated a few more degrees before coming down he would have been in real trouble. As it was he just about took the brunt to shoulderish area.

Perpignan 4 needs a few weeks out of the game just to make the point that you don't put hands on an official, heat of the moment or otherwise.

NH Medic needs a few weeks touchline/match ban for the shove on the player on the pitch. Last thing you need is the medic exacerbating the aggro potential aggro, with the injured guy metres away. To say it was not intentional shove to the guilty party is just naive.

By Eoghan, at May 09, 2011 1:43 am
It was an accident.
Red would be overkill.

Again, I hate to bring it up, but if this is red, do you think O'Gara should have got red and banned for weeks when he did the exact same thing on the Lions tour?

I don't remember anyone crying about it then. No South Africans called for a ban.
Why this obsession with bans and cards in the north?

By Jono, at May 09, 2011 3:24 am
Jono why dont you shut the fuck up for once with the NH SH shit....

Im from the NH and I totally agreed a red for this would be ridiculous. It's not pretty and I dont want to see it, but to me it doesnt actually look 100% intentional, dickson jumps literally a fraction of a second before the hit...

But ofcourse you have to be a prize c*nt and act like every NH fan wants a red card...

you sad piece of shit!

By Tommo, at May 10, 2011 3:28 am
haha, whatever Tommo, hard man.

By Jono, at May 11, 2011 1:06 am