Bulls playmaker Goosen learns his fate after Loftus red card

DISCIPLINARY UPDATE: The Bulls will be without their chief playmaker at a crucial stage of the United Rugby Championship season.

On Thursday, it was revealed that flyhalf Johan Goosen has been suspended for three games after he received a red card for a head-on-head collision in his team’s defeat to Munster last weekend.

However, Goosen can reduce it to two weeks if he completes the World Rugby Coaching Intervention Programme.

See the full statement below

A URC statement said: “The Disciplinary process related to Johan Goosen’s red card in the United Rugby Championship Round 14 game against Munster on Saturday, April 20 has resulted in a three-game suspension.

“After an act of foul play by Bulls player No.10, referee Adam Jones showed the player a red card in the 53rd 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 Judicial Officer overseeing the disciplinary process [Kathrine Mackie, Scotland], he had accepted that he had committed an act of foul play which warranted a red card.

“Sheriff Mackie found that the incident met the red card threshold, with entry of mid-range warranting six weeks.

“The player received three weeks [50 percent] mitigation due to his good record and apology to the player which results in a three-game suspension.

“Should the player complete the World Rugby Coaching Intervention Programme then the sanction will be reduced by one week.”

Fixtures Johan Goosen is unavailable for:

Bulls v Ospreys, April 27, URC
Bulls v Glasgow Warriors, May 11, URC
Bulls v Benetton, May 18, URC