Sharks scrumhalf learns fate after elbow strike

NEWS: Scrumhalf Jaden Hendrikse will miss the Sharks’ next three Currie Cup games after receiving a ban for foul play.

In the second half of the Sharks’ 31-71 defeat to the British and Irish Lions on Saturday, Hendrikse struck Lions fullback Liam Williams with an elbow and English referee Wayne Barnes, after consulting briefly with the television match official, flashed a red card.

The 21-year-old subsequently appeared before an independent judicial committee.

“The independent Disciplinary Committee chaired by Stephen Hardy (Australia), joined by former internationals John Langford (Australia) and David Croft (Australia), heard the case and were presented with all available evidence, including multiple broadcast angles and submissions from the player and his representatives,” said a statement from World Rugby.

“The player admitted that he had committed an act of foul play worthy of a red card. Having reviewed and considered all of the available evidence before the Committee, the Committee deemed that the player had breached Law 9.12 in that he had physically struck British and Irish Lions No.15 Liam Williams with his elbow/forearm, connecting with Williams’s head/neck area.

“As there had been contact with Williams’s head/neck area, the Committee applied World Rugby’s mandatory minimum mid-range entry point for foul play. This resulted in a starting point of a six-match suspension.

“Having acknowledged various mitigating factors including the player’s clear and genuine remorse, early acknowledgment of culpability, apology given directly to both Williams and the referee and exemplary disciplinary record to date, the Committee reduced the six-match entry point by three weeks, resulting in a sanction of three weeks being imposed.

“The player has the right of appeal within 48 hours of the Disciplinary Committee issuing its full written decision.”

Hendrikse will miss games against the Pumas (July 16), Bulls (July 21) and Cheetahs (July 24).