Thursday 10th September 09

The RFL Disciplinary Committee has cleared Leeds Rhinos second row Jamie Jones Buchanan of making a ‘chicken wing’ tackle, the controversial wrestling technique which places dangerous levels of pressure on an opponents’ shoulder, in last Friday’s engage Super League Round 27 fixture against St Helens.

Although Jones Buchanan’s appeal against the one match suspension and £300 fine for his Grade C reckless tackle on St Helens prop James Graham was unsuccessful, the Disciplinary Committee accepted that the player did not execute a ‘chicken wing’ tackle.

At Tuesday’s disciplinary hearing the committee ruled that Jones-Buchanan had used the shoulder and arm of Graham as a lever to attempt to push the player onto his back.  The Committee expressed concern that the use of the player’s shoulder and arm in this manner was unnecessary, as the tackle had been completed and his opponent was in a vulnerable position. 

At the subsequent appeal hearing on Wednesday evening Leeds coach Brian McClennan pointed out that the referee had not ruled the tackle to be complete and that Jones Buchanan was merely attempting to put Graham on to his back.

McClennan and Jones Buchanan gave a demonstration to the Disciplinary Committee of how the tackle was executed and argued that the tackle was not a ‘chicken wing’.

After reviewing video footage of the tackle again, the Disciplinary Committee accepted the submission from Leeds but ruled that Jones Buchanan did put undue pressure on the joints of his opponent.

This was done not by the arm but by the weight of the player’s body as his opponent’s arm is going back. As the footage clearly shows Graham reacting by shouting out to this undue pressure, the Committee were satisfied that standard of care was not exercised in the tackle and found the allegation proved.

Having lost his appeal, Jones Buchanan was also ordered to surrender a £200 bond.