Ospreys player Gareth Evans was shown a red card in bizarre circumstances during his side’s 24-22 victory over strugglers Benetton on Sunday.
In the 59th minute of the match, the Ospreys were penalised at a breakdown but away from the action, Benetton prop Cherif Traore was left sprawled out on the turf.
Fly-half Ian Keatley booted the ball to touch while Traore was receiving treatment and before the lineout took place, the Ospreys opted to substitute Evans.
Replacement Olly Cracknell ran onto the pitch as the Benetton prop was helped to the medical room to undergo a head injury assessment.
Suddenly referee Andrew Brace was called to a monitor on the side of the pitch at St Helen’s to check the action which led to Traore’s injury.
What became clear on the replay was Evans had clashed heads with his opponent in the act of attempting to clear out a different player at the ruck.
It appeared to be a total accident but referee Brace took a dim view of the situation.
He then had to call Evans, who was now wearing his coat and sat on the bench, back onto the field to be shown a red card.
Cracknell then had to be called off the field to take the side down to 14 men, but would later come on to replace Dan Lydiate.
Speaking on the red card after the match, Ospreys boss Toby Booth said: "For me it looked like a rugby collision. It was not even the guy he was trying to clear out, it was a coming together.
"It was head-on-head, I can’t argue with that but it was not the guy arriving at the ruck. He has come over the top of the person and yes two heads have come together.
"He has accelerated into the breakdown but we will see where that goes. There was no intent going head on head, no chance."
Evans will now be subject to a disciplinary hearing, where he will learn whether or not he is to receive a ban.
