Independent Disciplinary Update: Kyogo Okano Decision

A citing commissioner has issued a citing report to Kyogo Okano of the MIE Honda HEAT for the match between MIE Honda HEATand URAYASU D-Rocks held on 22 March.

This is to inform that in accordance with Article 34 (Judicial and Citing) of the JAPAN RUGBY LEAGUE ONE ‘Official Match Guidelines 2024-25’ 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: Kyogo Okano 

Team:MIE Honda HEAT 

Date of Incident: 22 March 2025

Nature of Offence: 

Law 9.13－A player must not tackle an opponent early, late or dangerously. Dangerous tackling includes, but is not limited to, tackling or attempting to tackle an opponent above the line of the shoulders even if the tackle starts below the line of the shoulders. 

Sanctions: 3 weeks (matches) Suspension (Rd 13-15) 

* Two accumulative yellow cards (YC) remain as it is separated from the decision this time   

The Act: The player twisted the victim player(No.13 of URAYASU DR)'s head and draw him down

Elapsed time in match when incident occurred: 10:00 into the 2nd half 

Note：

The player has been awarded two YC as below;
・YC①：12 Jan 2025 Rd 4 vs SAITAMA WK　
Nature of Offence:　World Rugby Regulation17 DISCIPLINE - FOUL PLAY　Appendix1　9.13
・YC②：19 Jan 2025 Rd 5 vs TOKYO SG
Nature of Offence: 　World Rugby Regulation17 DISCIPLINE - FOUL PLAY　Appendix1　9.20(d)(e)

【References】
JAPAN RUGBY LEAGUE ONE “Official Match Guidelines 2024-25” (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