Two SuperSport Rugby Challenge players suspended

May 29 • General News • 916 Views • Comments Off on Two SuperSport Rugby Challenge players suspended

Lodewyk Uys of the SWD Eagles and Victor Sekekete of the Xerox Golden Lions XV were both suspended from the SuperSport Rugby Challenge following disciplinary hearings on Thursday.

Uys, a loose forward for the Eagles, was red carded in the 65th minute of their match against DHL Western Province on 19 May for striking an opponent with an elbow to the face.

At the hearing conducted before the Duty Judicial Officer, Adv. Donald J Jacobs SC, Uys pleaded guilty to the contravention of Law 10.4 (a).

The severity of the contravention fell within the lower end for purposes of a possible sanction i.e. two weeks period. The player accepted a one week sanction.

Sekekete, a loose forward for the Xerox Golden Lions XV, was red carded in the 76th minute of their match against the Hino Valke on 14 May. The referee’s report noted that the player had contravened Law 10.4 (e) by tackling an opponent “around the neck, with force and following through”.

The contravention of Law 10.4 (e) was confirmed by Adv. Jacobs SC and it was noted that at the time of the contact between the player and the opposing player of the Hino Valke, Sekekete “made contact with the neck and head” of the opposing player.

It was also apparent from the video footage that Sekekete’s right arm, at the time the contact was made with the opponent, could be described as “stiff arm” contact. It was held that the player’s conduct fell within the ambit of Law 10.4 (e) and that the red card should be confirmed.

Sekekete’s legal representative submitted that the contravention fell within the mid-range in terms of the sanctioning in World Rugby Regulation 17, of which the starting point for consideration, therefore, was a period of six weeks suspension.

After taking into account mitigating factors, Adv. Jacobs SC reduced the sanction to five weeks and declared that the player was not eligible to play in the match on 27 May 2017 and four subsequent matches to be played thereafter.

Issued by SA Rugby Communications