More puzzling suspensions from SANZAAR

The SANZAAR Foul Play Review Committee has accepted guilty pleas from Stormers duo Raymond Rhule and Johannes Englebrecht during their respective disciplinary hearings.

Rhule has been suspended from all forms of the game for three weeks, up to and including June 22. Rhule pleaded guilty for contravening Law 9.25: A player must not intentionally charge or obstruct an opponent who has just kicked the ball, after he was red carded during his team's 23-26 loss to the Lions. 

Engelbrecht has been suspended for one week for contravening SANZAAR Disciplinary Rule 6.1, after he was issued with a yellow card and a warning for separate incidents during the match in Cape Town.

Both players will not miss any games for the Stormers as the Cape side's campaign continues after the June international break. 

Meanwhile Brumbies hooker Folau Fainga'a received only a one-week suspension for a headbutt in his team's 38-28 win over the Bulls.

The SANZAAR Foul Play Review Committee of Nigel Hampton QC (Chairman), Stefan Terblanche and John Langford accepted a guilty plea from Fainga'a for contravening Law 9.12: Striking with head, after he was red carded. 

In his finding, Hampton ruled the following: 

"Having conducted a detailed review of all the available evidence, including all camera angles and additional evidence, including from the player [Fainga'a] and submissions on his behalf, the Foul Play Review Committee upheld the Red Card under Law 9.12. 

"With respect to sanction the Foul Play Review Committee deemed the act of foul play merited a low-end entry point of four weeks, given some degree of provocation before the incident and the relative lack of force in the contact between the two players.

"Taking into account mitigating factors including the Player's excellent Judicial record, his youth and inexperience and his pleading guilty at the first available opportunity, the Foul Play Review Committee reduced the suspension to two weeks. In addition, given the player's good character and the fact that, in the Committee's view, two weeks was a wholly disproportionate sanction for an offence that only related to comparatively minor contact, the sanction was further reduced by an extra week."

"The player is therefore suspended for one week, up to and including 3 June 2018."

In his finding on Rhule's case, Hampton ruled the following:

"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, Adrian Montzinger, the Foul Play Review Committee upheld the red card under Law 9.25 

"With respect to sanction the Foul Play Review Committee deemed the act of foul play merited a mid-range entry point of six weeks, especially given that that act resulted in a blow to the opposing player's head. However, taking into account mitigating factors including the Player's excellent Judicial record, his good character and his early guilty plea at the first available opportunity, the Foul Play Review Committee reduced the suspension to three weeks.

"The player is therefore suspended for three weeks, up to and including 22 June 2018."

In his finding on Engelbrecht's case, Hampton ruled the following:

"Having conducted a detailed review of all the available evidence, including all camera angles and additional evidence for each incident, including from the Player and submissions from his legal representative, Adrian Montzinger, the Foul Play Review Committee found the player should be the subject of further sanction for his persistent foul play offending in one match. 

"With respect to sanction the Foul Play Review Committee deemed the nature of the persistent offending, together with the closeness together of the two incidents, merited an entry point of two weeks suspension. However, taking into account mitigating factors including the Players excellent Judicial record and his admission of responsibility at the first available opportunity, the Foul Play Review Committee reduced the suspension to one week.

"The player is therefore suspended for one week, up to and including 2 June 2018."

Earlier on Monday, Sharks captain Ruan Botha was given a four-week suspension for contravening Law 9.12: Striking with hand or arm.