May's three-week stomping

Mon, 12 May 2008 09:59

Chiefs prop Ben May has been suspended for three weeks, following a SANZAR (South Africa, New Zealand and Australia Rugby) judicial committee hearing held in Durban on Sunday.

May received a red card in the Chiefs' 27-33 Super 14 loss to the Lions in Johannesburg at the weekend, after he was spotted putting his boot in the face of Lions flank Joe van Niekerk.

He was found guilty under section 10.4 (b) of the International Rugby Board (IRB) laws: 'Stamping or trampling. A player must not stamp or trample on an opponent.'

The judicial committee  found that May was careless where he placed his foot and that the incident was at the lower end of the scale.

The judgment  took into account that there was no malice, no intent to cause harm and May's unblemished record at first class rugby. 

May will be leaving South Africa within the next day or so. 

Apart from May's departure, the Chiefs will also be without a host of other players when they face the Sharks in a  must-win encounter in Durban on Saturday.

They have flown in four players - scrumhalf Brendon Leonard, midfield back Murray Williams,  prop Nathan White and hooker John Paeranga - to join the squad in Durban.

May, scrumhalf David Bason, prop Simms Davison, prop Simon Lemalu and centre Richard Kahui are all set to return to New Zealand early this week.

There also remains doubt about the fitness of barnstorming No.8 Sione Lauaki, who is struggling with a hamstring strain and will face a fitness test later this week. He limped off in the first half of the loss to the Lions.

Wing Sitiveni Sivivatu, who also left the field with an ankle sprain, will be monitored and also face a fitness test this week.

Hooker Tom Willis, who pulled out at a late stage in the build-up to last week's encounter with the lions due to an abdominal oblique muscle strain, also remains on the doubtful list. His progress will be monitored this week.

Kahui returned home with ankle sprain, Lemalu suffered a meniscal tear in his knee and Davison has a lumbar spine injury.