Independent Disciplinary Update: Ben Paltridge Decision

A yellow card was issued to Ben Paltridge of the MIE Honda HEAT by a referee at the match between MIE Honda HEAT and SHIZUOKA BlueRevs held on 22 February 2026 and the total number of YC cards has now reached three.

This is to inform that in accordance with Article 34 (Judicial and Citing) of the JAPAN RUGBY LEAGUE ONE ‘Official Match Guidelines 2025-26’ and the Japan Rugby Football Union ‘Regulation of Sanctions for Foul Play’, the Judicial Officer conducted a hearing with the player and decided to apply the following sanctions.

■Regulation 17 (DISCIPLINE - FOUL PLAY): Details of the Incident

Player: Ben Paltridge 

Team: MIE Honda HEAT 

Date of Incident: 22 February 2026

Nature of Offence:  

YC①②：

 Law 9.7(a) – A player must not: Intentionally infringe any law of the game. 

YC③：

Law 9.7(a) –A player must not: Intentionally infringe any law of the game. 

Law 9.20 – Dangerous play in a ruck or maul.

a. A player must not charge into a ruck or maul. Charging includes any contact made without binding onto another player in the ruck or maul.

Sanctions: No Additional Sanctions

2. The Judicial Officer or Judicial Committee may decide that sending off was sufficient (or otherwise that no further sanction is appropriate) in the following circumstances: (c) any of the Temporary Suspensions were awarded for so-called technical offences (including following a team warning) not involving a breach of Laws 9.11 to 9.28 inclusive. 

* No YC is accumulated

The Act: 

Elapsed time in match when incident occurred: 

 YC① Intentional Infringement [vs S TOKYO-BAY 11 Jan 10:00]

  YC② Intentional infringements [vs SAGAMIHARA DB 14 Feb 17:00 into the second half]

  YC③ The act of joining the maul from the side and collapsing just after crossing the try line [vs SHIZUOKA BR 22 Feb 29:00]

【References】
JAPAN RUGBY LEAGUE ONE “Official Match Guidelines 2025-26” (JP only)

https://league-one.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com/file/menu/17338_693ba388aee09.pdf
Japan Rugby Football Union “Regulation of Sanctions for Foul Play” (JP only)
https://rugby-japan.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com/file/html/169467_6560879583b90.pdf
World Rugby　Regulation17 DISCIPLINE - FOUL PLAY
https://www.world.rugby/organisation/governance/regulations/reg-17