Bulls wing learns fate for reckless act
NEWS: The Bulls have been dealt a hefty blow ahead of their Round 14 United Rugby Championship clash against Zebre.
Winger Sebastian de Klerk has been handed a two-match suspension for the red card he received during the Round 13 match of the URC against Leinster.
During his disciplinary hearing led by John Kirk, de Klerk was found guilty of foul play for his 74th-minute mistake under Law 9.17, which states, “A player must not tackle, charge, pull, push or grasp an opponent whose feet are off the ground.”
Kirk found that the incident met the red card threshold, with a low-end entry point, which warrants a four-week ban.
At the hearing, Sebastian accepted that he committed an act of foul play, which warranted a red card.
Based on mitigation, he was subsequently given a two-week/game suspension due to his immediate apology on the field and throughout.
His good record and exemplary conduct throughout the disciplinary process also helped him receive a 50 percent suspension of his sanction.
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De Klerk will be unavailable for the following fixtures:
March 29: Bulls v Zebre Parma (URC)
April 5: Bayonne v Bulls (Challenge Cup)
Meanwhile, Edinburgh centre Mosese Tuipulotu’s red card against Benetton has resulted in a three-match suspension.
After an act of foul play by Tuipulotu, referee Craig Evans showed the player a red card in the 75th 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 (H. Pat Barriscale), he had accepted that he had committed an act of foul play which warranted a red card.
Barriscale 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 apology and good record, 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.
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Fixtures Mosese Tuipulotu is unavailable for:
March 28: Edinburgh v Dragons (URC)
April 4: Edinburgh v Lions (Challenge Cup)
April 18: Edinburgh v Sharks (URC)
