The England international was left lying motionless on the pitch after the brutal hit
England star Immanuel Feyi-Waboso was knocked out cold on the field of play following a sickening collision with Ireland international Jacob Stockdale during Exeter Chiefs’ Challenge Cup semi-final clash with Ulster.
The Cardiff-born wing was on the attack for his side just before the half-hour mark at the Affidea Stadium when he was put on the receiving end of a brutal hit by Stockdale, who then drove him into the ground by his head as he attempted to haul the Chiefs man down.
The challenge immediately drew groans from the crowd in Belfast, with referee Pierre Brousset immediately bringing the game to a halt as Feyi-Waboso lay motionless on the turf.
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After lying there for several seconds as his concerned teammates rushed to his aid, the England international suddenly jolted awake and attempted to get up, leading Brousset to tell him not to move as a medic arrived on the scene.
Feyi-Waboso was immediately withdrawn for a head injury assessement (HIA) and did not return, with the referee left to decide the fate of Stockdale, who also did not return to the action after half-time.
Replays appeared to show the Irish back making initial contact with Feyi-Waboso’s shoulder before the tackle rode up and made contact with his head. In the immediate aftermath, however, Stockdale was shown grabbing the Exeter star’s face and driving him down into the ground with force.
After consulting the replays with TMO Eric Gauzins, Brousset reached his decision, telling captains Dafydd Jenkins and Iain Henderson: “The first contact is on the shoulder, with most of the force, and then we’ve got the head contact, so it will be a yellow card.”
“I think that’s well explained and the right decision,” said ex-Ireland star Andrew Trimble, on punditry duty for Premier Sports.
“I think we’ve got the right decision there,” added fellow former Irish international Gareth Steenson. “It’s a big collision as well. Jacob Stockdale probably saw Feyi-Waboso coming round the corner and thought this is my opportunity to take him.
“It’s an incredible defensive read and he’s just a couple of inches too high,” Trimble continued. “His head just bounces off his shoulder and indirectly makes head contact, so a yellow card is the right decision.”
However, many viewers were outraged at the decision, arguing that Stockdale got away incredibly lightly for what they described as a “disgusting” challenge.
“That’s absolutely shocking,” wrote one on X. “Embarrassing from the referee with a player who’s taken a serious injury. Two independent horrendous actions from Stockdale, yellow is so soft. No bottle in big games anymore.
“Jacob Stockdale is possibly the luckiest man alive,” added another. “How on earth was that only a yellow?”
A third wrote: “Awful decision, Stockdale has a black eye and Manny was out cold. Should be a red and a lengthy ban,” while another added: “Disgusting dog shot from Stockdale, how it’s only a yellow is a joke.”
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