Alev Kelter, the USA Eagles centre and Olympic bronze medallist, will miss one Test match following a controversial decision by World Rugby, baffling many fans and analysts. During a match in Canberra on Saturday, Kelter was sent off for a shocking incident where she stomped on Australian player Georgina Friedrichs, an act that referee Aimee Barrett-Theron deemed as “thuggery.” Thankfully, Friedrichs escaped serious injury during the Pacific Four Series encounter, which Australia won 27-19.
Despite calls for a substantial ban, with commentator Sean Maloney suggesting a “double digit” suspension, Kelter received a three-match ban. She will miss the upcoming clash against New Zealand and two subsequent matches in June for her club, the Bay Breakers.
The independent disciplinary committee, chaired by New Zealand’s Michael Heron with members including former All Blacks halfback Ofisa Tonu’u and ex-England lock Becky Essex, determined that although Kelter’s actions constituted foul play, they did not believe she intended to deliberately contact Friedrichs’ head. Their ruling indicated that the contact was “glancing or grazing” rather than outright targeted, and they concluded that her actions were reckless but not malicious.
Former Wallabies player Morgan Turinui expressed his condemnation of Kelter’s actions, arguing that such conduct has no place in modern rugby. He highlighted the growing concern over player safety and called for a more significant penalty, suggesting a ban of 12 to 18 weeks.
While Kelter’s suspension is relatively light given the circumstances, it raises further questions about the consistency of disciplinary decisions in rugby regarding player safety. The upcoming rematch between Australia and the USA at the Rugby World Cup on August 31 is likely to be highly charged, further fuelling the rivalry.
As the Wallaroos prepare to face Canada in Brisbane, this incident adds to the ongoing dialogue about managing player conduct and ensuring the integrity of the sport.