Leicester's new South African signing in dock for foul play
Kobus van Wyk, Leicester’s new signing on the wing finished his last game today for the Hurricanes in New Zealand’s Super Rugby Aotearoa but it seems his leaving is now under a bit of a dark cloud.
Apparently he’s been cited for alleged foul play and must appear before the commission before moving to the UK and take up his new post with Leicester Tigers.
The 6’3, 98 Kg South African picked up Chiefs scrumhalf Brad Webber in a moment of madness in the 36th minute of the game and flipped him over like a sack of coal causing Webber to land on his back. This earned him the ire of referee James Doleman and a yellow card for his indiscretion.
Van Wyk is alleged to have contravened rule 9.18: A player must not lift an opponent off the ground and drop or drive that player so that their head and/or upper body make contact with the ground.
Upon further review the Citing Commissioner deemed in his opinion that the incident had met with the red card threshold for foul play and therefore cited Van Wyk who now must appear before them.
A SANZAAR statement reads: “The Case is to be considered in the first instance by the SANZAAR Foul Play Review Committee which will take place on Monday 10 August, 7pm(NZST) via video-conference.
“For a matter to be dispensed with at this hearing, the person appearing must plead guilty and accept the penalty offered by the Foul Play Review Committee.”
Van Wyk who had put in a good game for his last at the Hurricanes scored a try from a cross kick to extend the Hurricanes lead to 22-13.
Leicester announced the signing of the 28 year old last month and are eagerly awaiting his arrival which may take a little longer now.
The winger originally joined the Stormers in 2014 before moving to France for five months in 2016 as a “medical joker” for Bordeaux. On his return to South Africa he subsequently signed for the Sharks where he spent two seasons charging down the touchline in more than 30 appearances and scoring 11 tries in the process for them. The globe trotting wing then spent a season in New Zealand paying for the Wellington Hurricanes.
He now awaits his appearance before the Foul Play Review Committee who will determine his penalty before finally setting off for his new club Leicester.
