Ettiene Oosthuizen cops three-week ban

Lyon second row Etienne Oosthuizen has been suspended for three weeks following an Independent Disciplinary Hearing in Paris on Wednesday.

Oosthuizen was sent off by referee Ben Whitehouse in the 70th minute of the match against Glasgow Warriors on Saturday for striking fly-half Adam Hastings with his arm in contravention of Law 9.12.

An independent Disciplinary Committee consisting of Jeremy Summers (England), Chair, Rory Bannerman (Scotland) and Val Toma (Romania), heard evidence and submissions from Oosthuizen, who pleaded guilty to the charge, from the Lyon President, Yann Roubert, and from the EPCR Disciplinary Officer, Liam McTiernan.

The Committee upheld the red card decision and found that the act of foul play was at the mid-range of World Rugby’s sanctions and selected six weeks as the appropriate entry point.

As there were no aggravating factors, and due to Oosthuizen’s guilty plea and his clear disciplinary record, the Committee reduced the sanction by the maximum amount of 50% before imposing a suspension of three weeks.

Oosthuizen is free to play on Monday, 7 January 2019 and both he and EPCR have the right to appeal the decision.