“Emily Robinson, Harlequins Flanker, Receives Five-Week Ban for On-Field Incident”
Harlequins flanker Emily Robinson has been handed a five-week suspension following a disciplinary hearing with the RFU. The ban stems from an incident during last Saturday’s Premiership Women’s Rugby match against Saracens, where Robinson was cited for headbutting Sydney Gregson.
Robinson, 23, accepted the charge and refrained from making excuses, acknowledging that her actions were inexcusable. She mentioned feeling a need to protect her 18-year-old teammate, Ella Cromack, as the catalyst for her violent response.
The altercation unfolded after a push on Cromack from Gregson, leading Robinson to charge headfirst into the Saracens centre. The referee, witnessing the events unfold right in front, consulted with his assistant and promptly showed Robinson a red card just after the final whistle, concluding a disappointing 31-0 home defeat for Quins.
In a post-match statement, Robinson admitted a “complete lack of judgment” and attributed her actions to letting the emotion of the occasion get to her, describing it as a “moment of madness.” She expressed remorse and confirmed apologizing to Gregson after the game.
Robinson emphasized that her behavior was “out of character,” a sentiment echoed by Andrew Rhys Jones, head of rugby operations for Harlequins Women, who stated that Robinson was “clearly mortified by her actions.”
Due to the ban, Robinson will miss Harlequins’ next five fixtures against Exeter, Gloucester-Hartpury, Leicester, Loughborough, and Bristol.
