Sam Underhill hit with four-match ban following dangerous tackle
The Bath flanker will miss his chance to win the Gallagher Premiership
Last updated 28th May 2025
Sam Underhill is set to miss out on appearing for Bath's chance to win the Gallagher Premiership after receiving a four-match ban.
The flanker and forward was stopped from played in the team's matches after he was pulled up for a dangerous tackle during Bath's clash with Lyon.
During the match, which saw Bath go on to win the EPCR Challenge Cup in Cardiff, Underhill made a potentially lethal tackle on full-back Davit Ninaishvili, with Underhill getting a yellow card from the referee.
However, a full complaint about the move was made by commissioner Philippe Lenne following the game, resulting in an independent disciplinary committee being called in.
Following their investigations, the committee ruled that Underhill should be suspended, with the date of his return to the pitch dependent once his future playing schedule is locked in.
Bath is gearing up for its final stretch of the Premiership, going up against Saracens on Saturday (May 31st).
After this, there is a play-off on June 6th, before the final of the overall Premiership just eight days later - should Bath make it that far.
Speaking on the judgement, a spokesperson for the EPCR said: "Underhill accepted that he had committed an act of foul play, but did not accept that it warranted a red card.
"The independent disciplinary committee upheld the complaint, finding that Underhill had tackled Davit Niniashvili in a dangerous manner that warranted a red card, and it determined that the offending was at the mid-range of World Rugby's sanctions and six weeks was selected as the appropriate entry point.
"The committee gave the player credit for his remorse and timely acceptance that he had committed an act of foul play.
"But because of his prior disciplinary record, the committee were only able to discount the entry point sanction by two weeks. They therefore imposed a four-week suspension."
This is not the first time this season that Underhill was taken off the pitch after he was given a three-week ban in April for a high tackle against Pau.