Bulls' Coetzee learns his fate after red card

NEWS: The Bulls’ Marcell Coetzee has been suspended for three United Rugby Championship matches following his red card in the Round 5 game against Edinburgh.

After an act of foul play by Coetzee, referee Chris Busby showed the player a Red Card in the 42nd minute of the game under Law 9.13 – A player must not tackle an opponent early, late or dangerously. Dangerous tackling includes, but is not limited to, tackling or attempting to tackle an opponent above the line of the shoulders even if the tackle starts below the line of the shoulders.

In the Player’s responses to the independent Disciplinary Committee overseeing the disciplinary process (Ben Rutherford, Chair (IRFU), Donal Courtney (IRFU), Jan Gedrych (WRU)), he accepted that he had committed an act of foul play but contested that it warranted a Red Card.

The Committee considered all of the evidence against the High Contact Process and found that the incident did meet the Red Card threshold, with entry of mid-range warranting 6 weeks.

The Player received three weeks (50%) mitigation due, in particular, to his previously exemplary disciplinary record which results in a three game suspension.

Should the player complete the World Rugby Coaching Intervention Programme, the sanction will be reduced by one game.

Fixtures Marcell Coetzee is unavailable for:

Bulls v Connacht – November 25

Bulls v Sharks – December 2

Bulls v Saracens – December 9, Champions Cup* subject to replacement by successful completion of the World Rugby Coaching Intervention Programme.