Kelly is handed three-match ban after Saracens clash
LEICESTER Tigers centre Dan Kelly has been given a three-match ban following a last-minute incident in the narrow win over Saracens on Saturday.
Tigers were six points behind when Guy Porter was illegally bundled into touch by opposition scrum-half Aled Davies.
After a check with the television match official, a penalty was awarded to the home side with the clock in the red.
From the resulting catch and drive, referee Christophe Ridley awarded a penalty try that sealed a dramatic 13-12 victory for Steve Borthwick’s side and kept them at the top of the Gallagher Premiership.
However, the officials missed a clear out from Kelly on the grounded Davies, which former Tigers player turned BT Sport pundit Ben Kay conceded on social media was a penalty and the decision should have been reversed – with Saracens winning the game as a consequence.
Kelly, 20, was cited by independent citing commissioner Duncan Bell, for striking with the shoulder contrary to World Rugby Law 9.12.
The ban means Kelly will miss Saturday’s game at London Irish and fixtures against Worcester
Warriors and Sale Sharks.
Kelly enjoyed a breakthrough season in 2020/21, playing 17 times for Leicester Tigers before earning his first England cap against
Canada in July. He has started at inside centre in all three of Leicester’s game so far this season, but wasn’t included in the 45 players selected by Eddie Jones for the 2021 autumn training camp.
In Kelly’s absence, Tigers have a number of options who could fill the 12 shirt.
They include Scotland international Matt Scott, who is capable at both inside and outside centre.
Borthwick could also turn to Juan Pablo Socino, who impressed from the bench against Saracens, Guy Porter, who started at 13 in that game, or Dan Lancaster, who is currently on loan at Nottingham.
Jaco Taute hasn’t played since February due to injury while Matias Moroni has returned from international duty with Argentina, but Saturday’s clash with London Irish may come too soon for him to be involved.