Leitch gets slap on the wrist

The SANZAAR foul play review committee accepted a guilty plea from Leitch for contravening Law 10.4(e): Dangerous tackling of an Opponent.

The incident occurred in the 77th minute of the Chiefs' 26-18 Super Rugby win over the Blues in Hamilton last Friday.

The referee for the match, Brendon Pickerill, issued a yellow card for the incident, but the citing commissioner deemed it to be a more serious offence and he was cited.

Leitch has been suspended from all forms of the game for one week, up to and including Friday, March 17.

It means he will miss the Chiefs' match against the Rebels in Melbourne on Friday.

The SANZAAR foul play review committee of Nigel Hampton (Chairman), Stefan Terblanche and Stephen Hardy assessed the case.

In his finding, foul play review committee Hampton decided a short ban was the best outcome.

"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, Aaron Lloyd, the foul play review committee upheld the citing under Law 10.4[e] Dangerous tackling of an Opponent," Hampton said.

"With respect to sanction, the foul play review committee deemed the act of foul play merited a low-end entry point of two weeks.

"However, taking into account mitigating factors including the player's excellent judicial record and early guilty plea, the foul play review committee reduced the suspension to 1 week.

"The player is therefore suspended for 1 week, up to and including Friday 17 March 2017."

All SANZAAR disciplinary matters are in the first instance referred to the foul play review committee to provide the option of expediting the judicial process.

For a matter to be dispensed with at this hearing, the person appearing must plead guilty and accept the penalty offered by the foul play review committee.