Crusaders' woes continue

DISCIPLINARY NEWS: Life after Scott Robertson has been accompanied by loads of troubles for the Crusaders.

And it seems it will not get any easier as veteran Owen Franks has been cited for foul play during the Crusaders’ 10-14 defeat to the Hurricanes on Friday.

The 36-year-old was handed a yellow card in the final seconds of the Crusaders’ fourth defeat of the season when he cleaned out Hurricanes loose forward Du’Plessis Kirifi.

However, SANZAAR released a statement on Monday, confirming that the ruling body has deemed the offence to be worth red.

The prop is set to have contravened Law 9.20b: Dangerous play in a ruck or maul. A player must not make contact with an opponent above the line of the shoulders.

Franks will face a SANZAAR Foul Play Review Committee on Monday, March 18 via video conference.

Losing Franks will be devastating news for the Crusaders’ new coach Rob Penney, who already sits with a long injury list.

Captain Scott Barrett has been ruled out for six weeks after suffering a broken finger.

Will Jordan (shoulder injury) and Braydon Ennor (knee injury) have been ruled out for the season.

Ethan Blackadder (calf) and Tamaiti Williams (hamstring) are also battling fitness issues, while Wales international Leigh Halfpenny has been ruled out of most of the season after a pectoral injury suffered in pre-season.

Meanwhile, Hurricanes hooker Asafo Aumua has been issued a Warning by the Citing Commissioner for foul play during Friday’s derby.

Aumua is alleged to have contravened Law 9.13: A player must not tackle an opponent early, late or dangerously.

The hooker has been issued with a Warning for his actions. A Warning may be issued by a Super Rugby Pacific Citing Commissioner for foul play incidents that are very close to, but in their opinion do not meet the Red Card threshold.