Hala’Ufia v RFU

Michael Beloff QC and Shane Sibbel acted for the Appellant, a London Irish RFC No. 8, in the RFU Disciplinary Appeal Panel and successfully appealed a first instance Panel decision that the Appellant had been guilty of a tip tackle offence contrary to Law 10.4(j). The Appeal Panel held that the first instance Panel had erred in law in failing to construe the elements of “lifting” and “dropping” within Law 10.4(j) offence in a manner consistent with their natural meaning and with the principle against doubtful penalisation.