Stormers wing Raymond Rhule has been handed a three-week suspension after his red card against the Lions on Saturday.



Rhule was sent off in the 51st minute of the match at Newlands after charging into Lions wing Ruan Combrinck, who had chipped the ball ahead. According to Sanzaar, he contravened Law 9.25, which states ‘a player must not intentionally charge or obstruct an opponent who has just kicked the ball’.

Foul play review committee chairman Nigel 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.’

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Meanwhile, Stormers centre JJ Engelbrecht and Brumbies hooker Folau Fainga’a have each received one-week suspensions.

Engelbrecht was cited after being yellow-carded for a lifting tackle at Newlands. He was also given a warning for a dangerous cleanout during the same game and subsequently banned for one week.

Hampton ruled the following on Engelbrecht’s suspension: ‘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 player’s excellent judicial record and his admission of responsibility at the first available opportunity, the foul play review committee reduced the suspension to one week.’

Fainga’a was cited for a headbutt on Bulls replacement Matthys Basson, for which he received a red card.

‘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,’ said Hampton.

‘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.’

However, due to the fact that Rhule was not included in the Springbok squad for their Test series against England, he will not miss any matches. Engelbrecht and Fainga’a will also not miss any games.

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