Falcons avoid sanctions
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A SARU judicial officer has rejected a complaint that the Falcons fielded an ineligible player in their First Division semifinal against the Leopards on October 3.
The Falcons won the match 31-24 and will go on to contest the Final against the Griffons.
The Leopards complained that Falcons flyhalf Clinton Swart was ineligible for the match as he had only been available to play for the team for two matches before the semifinal.
They argued that the regulations required for him to be available for five log matches to be eligible for the play-offs.
The Leopards based their complaint on the argument that the First Division was a double round tournament – including the preceding Premier Division Qualifying tournament – and therefore required a five-match availability qualification period for play-off appearances.
The Falcons argued that the tournament was a single round competition and therefore required only a two-match qualification period.
SARU Judicial Officer Rob Stelzner, ruled that the competition was a single round tournament and that the Falcons had not breached the regulations as Swart had fulfilled the appropriate qualification criteria.
“In my view the First Division competition is to be treated as a separate and distinct single round competition with the preceding Qualifying Round being played in a similar and distinct single round format,” wrote Stelzner in his verdict.
“In the circumstances the complaint is not upheld.”
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