Bulls' Hanekom free to play

NEWS: Bulls flanker Cameron Hanekom is available to play after the citing complaint against him was dismissed by the citing complaint against him was dismissed by an EPCR Disciplinary Committee panel on Thursday.

Hanekom was cited by the match Citing Commissioner, Stuart Morgan-Scott, for allegedly tackling the Northampton Saints centre, Fraser Dingwall, in a dangerous manner in the 49th minute in contravention of Law 9.18.

Law 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.

Under World Rugby’s Sanctions for Foul Play, Law 9.18 carries the following sanction entry points – Low End: 6 weeks; Mid-range: 10 weeks; Top end: 14 to 52 weeks

An independent Disciplinary Committee comprising Pamela Woodman (Scotland), Chair, Marcello d’Orey (Portugal) and Bogdan Zebega (Romania) studied video imagery of the incident and heard evidence and submissions from Hanekom, who admitted that he had committed an act of foul play but who did not accept that it warranted a red card, from the player’s legal representative, Attie Heyns, and from the EPCR Disciplinary Officer, Liam McTiernan.

The committee determined that Hanekom had committed an act of foul play by tackling Dingwall in a dangerous manner as alleged by the match Citing Commissioner, however, it decided that the player’s actions did not warrant a red card and the complaint was therefore dismissed.

Hanekom is free to play immediately and EPCR have the right to appeal the decision.