Schoeman learns his fate after red-card tackle on Libbok

NEWS: The Lions lock Ruben Schoeman was handed a suspension after being shown a red card during his team’s defeat to Stormers in Round Eight of the United Rugby Championship.

The 28-year-old received a five-week band after the URC’s disciplinary process.

The lock was red-carded by referee Chris Allison in the 20th minute or a dangerous clear-out on Manie Libbok.

*FYI: ‘No malice’ in Schoeman’s red-card tackle on Libbok

In a statement, the URC confirmed the suspension.

“After an act of foul play by Lions player No.4 Ruben Schoeman, referee Chris Allison showed the Player a Red Card in the 20th minute of the game under Law 9.20a – Dangerous play in a ruck or maul. A player must not charge into a ruck or maul. Charging includes any contact made without binding onto another player in the ruck or maul,” the statement read.

Schoeman accepted that foul play had occurred and that the offence warranted a red card.

“In the Player’s responses to the Judicial Officer overseeing the disciplinary process (Rose Alice Murphy, Ireland), he had accepted that he had committed an act of foul play which warranted a Red Card.

“Murphy found that the incident met the Red Card threshold, with entry of mid-range warranting six weeks. The Player received 3 weeks (50 percent) mitigation for his apology, admission of foul play and conducting himself well in the abbreviated process.

“However, the player has received two other Red Cards for foul play in the last 13 months which have resulted in suspensions, one of which was reduced by one week because the Player benefited from the World Rugby Coaching Intervention Programme.

“The Player’s previous record was therefore considered as an aggravating factor warranting a further two weeks of sanction.

“This results in a five-game suspension.”

Fixtures Ruben Schoeman is unavailable for:

Montpellier v Lions, January 11, 2025, EPCR Challenge Cup
Lions v Dragons, January 18, 2025, EPCR Challenge Cup
Lions v Bulls, January 25, 2025, URC
Lions v Stormers, February 15, 2025, URC
Bulls v Lions, February 22, 2025, URC