Marcell Coetzee Cleared to Play as Bulls Receive Major Boost

Bulls loose forward Marcell Coetzee is free to play this weekend after a disciplinary panel rejected a citing complaint over an alleged dangerous clean-out against Ulster, ruling that the yellow card issued during the match was sufficient.

Coetzee faced a citing complaint following an incident in the 43rd minute of the Bulls’ United Rugby Championship Round Four clash against Ulster on Saturday, October 24. The forward was accused of carrying out a dangerous clean-out, in breach of World Rugby Laws 9.20(a) and 9.20(b), which address dangerous play in a ruck or maul.

The disciplinary panel, chaired by Ireland’s Ben Rutherford and including Wales’ Declan Goodwin and Chris Morgan, confirmed that foul play had occurred. However, after reviewing the incident, the panel determined that the contact was primarily between Coetzee’s shoulder and his opponent’s body.

The panel further concluded that the contact with the head was incidental and involved a low level of force. Evidence presented by Coetzee, the opposing player and the medical team supported this assessment.

Applying World Rugby’s Head Contact Process, the panel found that the incident presented a low degree of danger. It therefore ruled that the yellow card shown to Coetzee by the match officials during the game was an appropriate sanction.

The citing complaint was subsequently dismissed, meaning Coetzee faces no further disciplinary action over the incident and remains available for selection for the Bulls’ upcoming fixture.