Sharks centre receives lengthy ban for Kings Park red card
DISCIPLINARY UPDATE: Sharks centre Murray Koster has received a five-game suspension for foul play in his team’s 24-25 defeat to Benetton in Durban last weekend.
The 25-year-old received a red card for head-on-head contact in a clear-out in the 75th minute of that match.
He will not be available for his team’s final two United Rugby Championship matches and the Sharks’ Challenge Cup Final against Gloucester at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on May 24.
Sharks centre Murray Koster’s red card against Benetton last weekend. pic.twitter.com/NWTBwFbZKm
— Murray Kinsella (@Murray_Kinsella) May 15, 2024
“The disciplinary process related to Murray Koster’s red card in the United Rugby Championship Round 16 game against Benetton on Saturday, May 11 has resulted in a five-game suspension,” said a URC statement.
“After an act of foul play by Sharks player No.12 [Murray Koster], referee Mike Adamson showed the player a red card in the 75th minute of the game under Law 9.20 -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. A player must not make contact with an opponent above the line of the shoulders. A player must not intentionally collapse a ruck or maul.
“In the player’s responses to the Judicial Officer overseeing the disciplinary process [Simon Thomas, WRU], he had accepted that he had committed an act of foul play which warranted a red card.
“Thomas found that the incident met the red card threshold, with entry of top-end warranting 10 weeks.
“The Player received five (50 percent) weeks mitigation due to his good record, timely admission of guilt and apology which results in a five-game suspension.
“Should the player complete the World Rugby Coaching Intervention Programme then the sanction will be reduced by one week.”
Fixtures Murray Koster is unavailable for:
Sharks v Cardiff, May 18, URC
Gloucester v Sharks, May 24, EPCR Challenge Cup Final
Sharks v Bulls, June 1, URC
College Rovers v Crusaders, June 14
College Rovers v Richards Bay, June 22
