Bulls lock Wilhelm Steenkamp Suspended for Two Weeks for striking a player with his head
A SANZAR Judicial Hearing has found Wilhelm Steenkamp of the Bulls guilty of contravening Law 10.4 (a) Striking another player with his head after he was cited during a Super Rugby match at the weekend.
Steenkamp has been suspended for two weeks up to and including the 20th of July.
The incident occurred in the 63rd minute during the match between the Bulls and Sharks at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on 6th July 2013.
The SANZAR Judicial Hearing held via videoconference on Tuesday 9th July 2013 was heard by Mike Heron.
In his finding, Mr Heron ruled the following:
Steenkamp made contact with the Sharks player with his head in an attempt to clear out the player from a collapsed maul. I found from the video footage that the player led with his head and contacted the Sharks player in between the shoulder and the head. From the video footage I found that Steenkamp intended to lead with his head and make contact with the Sharks Player and that he was reckless as to whether he would commit an act of Foul Play. I was assisted in these finding by former professional player John Langford. I did not find that Steenkamp intended to injure the Sharks player nor did I find that his head struck the face of the Sharks player as alleged in the citing. I found that the action was in an intense and critical phase of play when the Sharks player was attempting to interfere with the Bulls possession. I was satisfied that the player gave evidence honestly and to the best of his recollection, and other than the findings made above I accepted his evidence.
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