Super Rugby Suspensions update

The SANZAAR Foul Play Review Committee has handed suspensions to four players following Round 15 of Super Rugby. 

An earlier decision saw Sharks captain Ruan Botha receive a 4-week suspension for a dangerous cleanout.  Full Story

Three other players have since received suspensions, Brumbies hooker Folau Fainga'a has been suspended for one week, while Stormers winger Raymond Rhule has been suspended for 3-weeks while his teammate JJ Engelbrecht has been suspended for 3 weeks. 

Fainga'a's suspension details

Fainga'a has been suspended from all forms of the game for 1 week, up to and including 3 June 2018. He has been suspended following a guilty plea for contravening Law 9.12: Striking with head, after he was Red Carded during a Super Rugby Match at the Weekend.

"Taking into account mitigating factors including the Player's excellent Judicial record, his youth and inexperience and his pleading guilty at the first available opportunity, the Foul Play Review Committee reduced the suspension to 2 weeks. In addition, given the Player's good character and the fact that, in the Committee's view,  2 weeks was a wholly disproportionate sanction for an offence that only related to comparatively minor contact, the sanction was further reduced by an extra week." said Chairman Nigel Hampton QC

Rhule's suspension details 

Rhule has been suspended from all forms of the game for 3 weeks, up to and including 22 June 2018. 

The SANZAAR Foul Play Review Committee of Nigel Hampton QC (Chairman), Stefan Terblanche and Stephen Hardy assessed the case.

In his finding, Foul Play Review Committee Chairman Nigel Hampton QC ruled the following: 

"Having conducted a detailed review of all the available evidence, including all camera angles and additional evidence, including from the Player and submissions from his legal representative, Adrian Montzinger, the Foul Play Review Committee upheld the Red Card under Law 9.25" 
 
"With respect to sanction the Foul Play Review Committee deemed the act of foul play merited a mid-range entry point of 6 weeks, especially given that that act resulted in a blow to the opposing player's head. However, taking into account mitigating factors including the Player's excellent Judicial record, his good character and his early guilty plea at the first available opportunity, the Foul Play Review Committee reduced the suspension to 3 weeks."

"The player is therefore suspended for 3 weeks, up to and including 22 June 2018.”

Engelbrecht's suspension details 

Englebrecht was awarded a Yellow Card for a lifting tackle in the 37th minute, and was subsequently issued a Warning by the Citing Commissioner for an incident involving a dangerous tackle during an attempted clean out, in the 52nd minute.

SANZAAR Disciplinary Rule 6.1 states:
"6.1: If a Player has received two Warnings or a combination of a Warning and a Yellow Card during a match, he shall be treated for disciplinary purposes as if he has been sent off."

Englebrecht has been suspended from all forms of the game for 1 week, up to and including 2 June 2018.

"With respect to sanction the Foul Play Review Committee deemed the nature of the persistent offending, together with the closeness together of the 2 incidents, merited an entry point of 2 weeks suspension. However, taking into account mitigating factors including the Players excellent Judicial record and his admission of responsibility at the first available opportunity, the Foul Play Review Committee reduced the suspension to 1 week." said Nigel Hampton QC