Burger gets suspended
Burger was cited by the match Citing Commissioner Peter Ferguson (Ireland) for dangerously entering a ruck and making contact with the Northampton Saints flank David Ribbans in last weekend's Champions Cup match.
An independent Disciplinary Committee consisting of Pamela Woodman (Scotland), Chair, Antony Davies (England) and Graham Quinn (Ireland), heard evidence and submissions from Burger, who pleaded guilty to the offence, from the player's legal representative, Sam Jones, from the Saracens Director of Rugby, Mark McCall, and from the EPCR Disciplinary Officer, Liam McTiernan.
The Committee upheld the citing complaint as it determined that Burger's act of foul play warranted a red card. It found that the offence was at the low end of World Rugby's sanctions and two weeks was selected as the appropriate entry point.
Due to the player's guilty plea and good recent disciplinary record, and as there were no aggravating factors, the Committee decided to reduce the sanction by the maximum of 50 percent before imposing a suspension of one week.
As Burger is not available for selection for Saracens' Anglo-Welsh Cup, Round Three match this weekend, his period of suspension will take in the club's Anglo-Welsh Cup, Round Four fixture against the Exeter Chiefs.
He is therefore free to play on Monday, February 5. Both he and EPCR have the right to appeal the decision.
Meanwhile, Pataro Rugby Calvisano player Rudy Biancotti has been suspended for one week.
Biancotti was sent off by match referee, Inigo Atorrasagasti (Spain), for a tackle off-the-ball on a Heidelberger RK player in the 80th minute of the Continental Shield play-off match against Heidelberger RK.
