Independent Disciplinary Update: Patrick McCurran Decision

A citing commissioner has issued a CCW to Patrick McCurran of the Yakult Levins Toda for the match between Yakult Levins Toda and Chugoku Electric Power Red Regulions held on 22 February.

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 decided to apply the following sanctions.

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

Player:  Patrick McCurran

Team: Yakult Levins Toda

Date of Incident: 22 February 2026

Nature of Offence: 

9.20 (d)ーA player may remove the jackler from the tackle area by pushing/driving them backwards (including by grabbing the knee/leg), but must not roll, pull or twist an opponent.

9.20 (e)ーA player must not drop their weight onto an opponent or target the lower limbs.

Sanctions: Yellow card  

The Act: Falling onto the victim player(No.9 of CHUGOKU RR)’s lower limbs when the player made a clean tackle on the opposition

Elapsed time in match when incident occurred: 19:00 into the 2nd half

【References】
JAPAN RUGBY LEAGUE ONE “Official Match Guidelines 2025-26” (JP only)
https://league-one.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com/file/menu/11248_6724a704ea4a2.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