Bok lock gets 'citing commissioner warning'
Van der Merwe, who plays for French club Clermont Auvergne, was issued with a citing commissioner warning following his club's European Champions Cup Round Three match against Ulster at the Kingspan Stadium last Saturday, December 10.
Van der Merwe charged into a ruck leading with his elbow in the 56th minute of the match – in contravention of Law 10.4 (k).
The warning was issued by the match citing commissioner, John Byett (England).
Van der Merwe, 31, has played in 36 Tests since his debut in 2010 – the last of those having been against Argentina in Buenos Aires last year.
The other citing commissioner warning went to Stade Francais second row Pascal Papé, following his club's European Challenge Cup Round Three match against Edinburgh at Murrayfield last Saturday.
Papé fell to the ground in an exaggerated manner in the 55th minute of the match, after being struck by the Edinburgh centre, Phil Burleigh, in contravention of Law 10.4 (m) – Acts contrary to good sportsmanship.
The warning was issued by the match citing commissioner, Eddie Wigglesworth (Ireland).
* World Rugby introduced citing commissioner warnings in 2014 as a mandatory provision where citing commissioners are present at matches. A citing commissioner warning is issued where the citing commissioner detects foul play, but determines that the conduct (in the words of World Rugby) "falls just short" of the red card threshold. For the purposes of the player's disciplinary record, a citing commissioner warning counts as a yellow card for foul play. A combination of three yellow cards for foul play and citing commissioner warnings in the same season will result in the player being called to a Disciplinary Hearing.
* Meanwhile Edinburgh centre Phil Burleigh has been suspended for one week following an disciplinary hearing in London on Wednesday, arising from his club's European Challenge Cup Round Three match against Stade Francais Paris at Murrayfield.
Burleigh was sent off by referee, Craig Maxwell-Keys (England), for striking the Stade Francais Paris second row, Pascal Papé, in the 55th minute of the match in contravention of Law 10.4 (a).
A disciplinary committee consisting of Simon Thomas (Wales), Chairman, Rhian Williams (Wales) and Marco Cordelli (Italy) heard evidence and submissions from Burleigh, who pleaded guilty to the offence, from the Edinburgh Chief Executive, Jonny Petrie, 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 Burleigh's clean disciplinary record, his guilty plea and expression of remorse, the Committee decided to reduce the sanction by the maximum of 50 percent before imposing a one-week suspension.
Burleigh is free to play on Monday, December 19.
Both the player and EPCR have the right to appeal the decision.
* In another disciplinary outcome Scarlets flank James Davies has been suspended for three weeks – following an disciplinary hearing in London on Wednesday, arising from his club's European Champions Cup Round Three match against Toulon at Stade Felix Mayol.
Davies was cited by the match Citing Commissioner, Steve Savage (England), for using foul and/or abusive language, and for making an obscene gesture during the first-half of the match in contravention of Law 10.4 (m).
An disciplinary committee consisting of Rod McKenzie (Scotland), Chairman, Bonike Erinle (England) and John Doubleday (England) heard evidence and submissions from Davies, who pleaded guilty to the offence, from Scarlets Team Manager, Mark Taylor, and from the EPCR Disciplinary Officer, Liam McTiernan.
In upholding the citing complaint, the committee found that the offence was at the low end of World Rugby's sanctions and selected four weeks as the appropriate entry point.
As the player had served a previous ban in 2014, the committee decided not to reduce the sanction by the maximum of 50 percent, but taking into account Davies' guilty plea and timely expression of remorse, it decided to reduce the sanction by one week before imposing a suspension of three weeks.
Davies is free to play on Monday, January 2.
Both the player and EPCR have the right to appeal the decision.
