Cardiff prop slapped with ban after Stormers red-card game

NEWS: Cardiff prop Danny Southworth has learned his fate after the red card he received in the game against the Stormers a fortnight ago.

The Stormers beat a determined Cardiff 34-24 in Cape Town in a game that saw both teams issued foul-play red cards.

Southworth was sent off for a high shot on Neethling Fouche in the 29th minute, and the Stormers’ fullback Damian Willemse joined him just short of the hour mark – both for shoulder-to-head high tackles.

Willemse was handed a three-match ban despite the Springbok entering what amounted to a plea bargain.

The Disciplinary process related to Southworth’s red card has resulted in a three-match suspension.

After the high tackle on Fouche, referee Gianluca Gnecchi gave the prop his marching orders 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 Southworth’s responses to the Judicial Officer overseeing the disciplinary process (Pamela Woodman), he had accepted that he had committed an act of foul play, which warranted a Red Card.

Woodman found that the incident engaged the head contact process and, in assessing the seriousness of the offending, determined that the (mandatory minimum) mid-range entry point was appropriate, which was a sanction of six weeks.

He received three weeks (50%) mitigation as a result of various factors, including his early acknowledgement of foul play, good record, and immediate apology and remorse. This results in a three-game suspension.

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