James So’oialo and Alesana Tuilagi disciplinary hearings
The citing of James So’oialo of Samoa for grabbing the testicles of Springbok hooker Adriaan Strauss during Saturday’s Castle Lager Incoming Series match at Loftus Versfeld was dismissed on Sunday.
The player was cited by Peter Larter (RFU) according to Law 10.4(m), committing an act contrary to good sportsmanship, for an incident which occurred in the 12th minute of the second half.
Judicial Officer, His Honour Judge Jeff Blackett (RFU), decided that the contact was accidental and dismissed the citing.
His Honour Judge Blackett said: “If I am to uphold this citing I must conclude that the Player has lied to me. My assessment of the Player is that he is honest: he immediately accepted that he had grabbed an opponent’s testicles – he did not attempt to dispute that fact – and he said that there is no room in the game for insidious acts.
“Further there was no attempt to weaken the evidence given by Strauss who himself accepted that there was probably no malicious intention. In those circumstances I determine on the balance of probabilities that the Player did not intend to squeeze Strauss’s testicles, nor were his actions reckless. In the dynamic situation of a ruck in which he was attempting to clear out an opponent he attempted to grab hold of his shorts and accidentally grabbed his testicles.”
Meanwhile Samoan wing, Alesana Tuilagi, was suspended for two weeks after receiving a red card in the match for a dangerous tackle on Springbok centre, Jean de Villiers.
He is free to play again on 15 July, 2013.
South Africa won the Test, 56-23.
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