Willemse gets a week ban

Willemse was sent off by referee, Wayne Barnes (England), for charging into a ruck with his shoulder in the 61st minute of the match in contravention of Law 10.4 (h).

Willemse was sanction to appear in front of the independent Disciplinary Hearing in London on Wednesday, December 21.

An independent Disciplinary Committee consisting of David Martin (Ireland), Chairman, Hugh Logan (Ireland) and Jean-Philippe Lachaume (France) heard evidence and submissions from Willemse, who pleaded guilty to the offence, from the Montpellier legal representative, Christian Chevalier, and from the EPCR Disciplinary Officer, Liam McTiernan.

In upholding the red card decision, the Committee found that the offence was at the low end of World Rugby's sanctions and selected two weeks as the appropriate entry point.  

Taking into account Willemse's good disciplinary record, his guilty plea and expression of remorse, the Committee decided to reduce the sanction by one week before imposing a one-week suspension.

Willemse is free to play on December 26.

While the Montpellier prop Davit Kubriashvili has been suspended for three weeks following an independent Disciplinary Hearing in London on Wednesday, December 21 arising from his club's European Rugby Champions Cup, Round three match against Castres Olympique at Altrad Stadium.

Kubriashvili was sent off by referee, Ben Whitehouse (Wales), for charging into a ruck in contravention of Law 10.4 (h).

Under World Rugby's Sanctions for Foul Play, Law 10.4 (h), carries the following sanction entry points – Low End: 2 weeks; Mid-Range: 5 weeks; Top End: 10 to 52 weeks.

The same independent Disciplinary Committee who heard Willemse case considered all the evidence and submissions from Kubriashvili, who pleaded guilty to the offence, from the Montpellier legal representative, Christian Chevalier, and from the EPCR Disciplinary Officer, Liam McTiernan.

Taking into account Kubriashvili's good disciplinary record, his guilty plea and expression of remorse, the Committee decided to reduce the sanction by two weeks before imposing a three-week suspension.

As Kubriashvili is deemed to have started his suspension following the Round three match in question, he is free to play on Monday,  January 2,  2017.