Steyn cops five weeks after appeal
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Sharks centre Frans Steyn has been slapped with a five-week ban for a tip-tackle incident he was cleared of only a week ago.
Steyn, with the help of Ryan Kankowski and Cobus Reinach, was involved in a tackle that looked to drive Chiefs' flyhalf Aaron Cruden into the ground in an illegal fashion.
Steyn was shown a red card for the incident, however there was suggestions from the officials that perhaps a yellow card would suffice.
The outcome of original SANZAR judicial hearing on March 23 saw judicial officer, Jannie Lubbe, finding Steyn not guilty of contravening Law 10.4 (j).
Which provides: Lifting a player from the ground and dropping or driving that player into the ground whilst that player’s feet are still off the ground such that the player’s head and/or upper body come into contact with the ground is dangerous play.
However, a SANZAR appeals committee, chaired by Terry Willis (Australia) and comprising Nigel Hampton (New Zealand) and Robert Stelzner (South Africa), has allowed an appeal by SANZAR against the verdict of the original judicial hearing that cleared Steyn of a lifting tackle.
The appeals committee unanimously upheld the appeal brought by SANZAR and found that Steyn breached Law 10.4 (j) and that the referee was correct to red card the player during the match between the Sharks and the Chiefs played at Kings Park in Durban on Saturday, March 21.
The Committee determined that the relevant sanction was four matches.
After taking into consideration the Sharks' bye in Round 11, Steyn was suspended from all forms of the game up to and including May 3.
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