School rugby player 'entirely responsible' for crippling injury, French court rules 

A school rugby player who left another player tetraplegic following a dangerous tackle during a match in 2022 has been judged "entirely responsible" by a French court.

The court in Tarbes (Hautes-Pyrénées) heard that the player, who was 18 at the time and now 20, had made several aggressive tackles and clear-outs before the so-called ‘cathedral’ or ‘spear’ tackle, in which he lifted the legs of Mathias Dantin, then 17, over his head and drove him headfirst into the ground.

Such tackles, intended to cause hurt, have always been illegal in rugby.

They are now banned in all circumstances after a notorious off-the-ball tackle against British Lions captain Brian O’Driscoll by All Black captain Tana Umaga and hooker Keven Mealamu just 41 seconds into a test match in New Zealand in 2005.

O’Driscoll managed to put an arm down to protect his head but the force of the tackle broke his shoulder.

Neither Umaga nor Mealamu were punished but the subsequent outrage led to stricter interpretations of tackle laws.

Life-changing injuries

Mr Dantin was in a coma for two days after the tackle, which happened in a match between two lycée teams on December 17, 2022. On waking, he discovered he was paralysed.

He is now a student in Toulouse but needs 24-hour care – his parents have stopped working to help him.

The tackler, who has not been named, was charged with violence resulting in a permanent mutilation, after a complaint was made by Mr Dantin’s family. They said it was the only way they could get recognition and financial compensation for the injury.

Prosecutors asked for a suspended sentence of 18 months for the defendant.

On February 18, the court ruled that the tackler was "entirely responsible" for "violence resulting in permanent disability".

The court imposed a nine-month suspended sentence on the tackler along with a fine of €2,000.

French rugby officials also have banned him from playing rugby, and he told the court he has cut all links with the sport.

Since the incident neither he nor his school club have had any contact with the Dantin family.

'It was an aggression'

Mr Dantin’s family were not present in court for the verdict and have not released a statement.

Mr Dantin, who has met with members of the French rugby team, has also, with his father Jérome, toured Basque country rugby clubs to give talks to junior sections about his injury and the need to learn and practise safe tackling techniques.

He has also co-authored a children’s book about rugby and the need to play it fairly.

Before the trial, he told France Bleu: “Through this trial I want to convey the message that I am the victim of an aggression which is not only outside the rules of rugby but also the rules of everyday life. 

“It was an aggression. And to point the finger at what happened before judges is to show that it was not something that happens every day, that it should not have happened at all and must not happen in the future.”

Read more: Explained: How to settle disputes without going to court in France