Bond slapped with four-week ban
Bond pleaded guilty for contravening Law 10.4 (e): Dangerous tackling of an Opponent.
He was red-carded during a Super Rugby match at Newlands last Friday, forcing hi to appear before SANZAAR judicial officer Michael Heron.
Bond attempted to tackle Stormers fullback Cheslin Kolbe, but made contact late and high.
The referee, Nic Berry, issued a red card for the offence in the 70th minute of the match.
Bond has been suspended from all forms of the game until May 7.
The SANZAAR judicial officer, Heron, in his finding ruled as follows: "I conducted the judicial officer process with Tim Bond, Shogo Tanaka san, Mark Hammett [all of the Sunwolves] and Bond's legal representative, Mary-Jane Crabtree.
"The player confirmed that he was trying to tackle the player in a 'smother' tackle and tried to pull-out when he knew that the Stormers player had passed the ball. The player accepted the conduct was foul play.
"I indicated that in my view the tackle was high, late and with only one arm potentially engaged. The shoulder of Bond connected with the Stormers' player [the head]. I accepted that it was not an intentional or pre-meditated action, but in my view given the combination of features, I considered it was reckless.
"The player was in a vulnerable position and left the field as a result. I indicated that I saw this as mid-range, and warranting an entry point of six weeks. I did not consider there were other aggravating features present.
"He checked on the Stormers' player and apologised to him. Bond has a relatively good disciplinary record, although has a recent citing for which he received a one-week suspension.
"He is aware of the dangers of concussion and was clear as to his lack of intention to put a player in jeopardy of that. I did not see his record as an aggravating factor and his overall conduct and history was of some mitigation.
"In the circumstances, particularly in light of the early guilty plea, I was willing to discount the relevant sanction to a period of four weeks' suspension, through and including the playing weekend of May 7 and 8.
"I was advised that one of those weeks was a bye week, but that Bond would have been available to play and could have been expected to play for the Japan XV against South Korea in Yokohama on that weekend.
"Other Sunwolves players will be playing. On that basis I accepted that week as a week which counted.
"On that basis, Bond is suspended from all forms of rugby through to and including May 7."
