Arnold wins appeal
Griquas lock Rory Arnold won his appeal against a ban for biting and has been cleared to play.
The Australian second row forward, on loan to Griquas for the Currie Cup competition from his Brisbane club, was on Monday found "not guilty" on a biting charge after.
Last week Wednesday a SARU judicial hearing found Arnold guilty of contravening Law 10.4(m) – following a biting incident in Griquas' Currie Cup clash against the Free State Cheetahs in Round Four, August 31.
Arnold was suspended for seven matches last Wednesday, after Cheetahs replacement hooker Ethienne Reynecke claimed he was bitten on the arm in the 62nd minute of their clash in Bloemfontein.
Arnold pleaded not guilty to the charge and in his defence said that the downward pressure on his head, while trying to cross the tryline with his mouth open, had caused the marks on the arm of the Cheetahs player.
However, the Judicial Officer made the decision "on the balance of probabilities and relying particularly on the victim's immediate and spontaneous reactions and the doctor's evidence".
Arnold's appeal was heard in Cape Town on Monday.
The committee ruled that there was a possibility that the bite mark could have been caused by the downward pressure applied on Arnold's head, and in turn on Reynecke's arm, while trying to score the try with his mouth open.
Arnold is free to resume playing and will be considered for Griquas' Round Six encounter with the Sharks in Kimberley on Saturday.
* Meanwhile Western Province captain Deon Fourie has been cited following, his team's 25-19 Currie Cup win against the Sharks at the weekend.
Fourie was cited for making contact with the face in the eye area of Sharks loose forward Keegan Daniel during their Currie Cup clash in Cape Town at the weekend.
Fourie was cited for contravening Law 10.4(m).
The incident occurred in the 12th minute, after Daniel pulled Fourie to the ground.
No action was taken by the referee.
Fourie will appear before a disciplinary committee in Cape Town on Tuesday, September 10.
Advocate Donny Jacobs has been appointed as the judicial officer.
