Fourie cleared on gouging charge

Western Province flank and captain Deon Fourie was cleared of foul play on Wednesday.

This follows after he was cited for making contact with Sharks flank Keegan Daniel's face, in the eye area, during their Currie Cup clash at Newlands last Saturday.

Fourie appeared before a SARU judicial committee in Cape Town on Tuesday, for allegedly breaching law 10.4 (m).

But the player was cleared of any infringement, resulting in the citing being dismissed.

In his findings judicial officer Donny Jacobs declared that the evidence presented did not show intent by Fourie to injure Daniel, but rather that the player had tried to free himself from Daniel's grip after being pulled to ground.

Fourie, who is currently sidelined with a rib injury, is free to resume his Currie Cup duties as soon as he recovers.