Sharks star cops four-week ban for 'reckless' tackle

DISCIPLINARY UPDATE: Sharks scrumhalf Grant Williams has been suspended for a month.

Williams was sent off in the 62nd minute for a head-on-head collision with Chris Smith during the Sharks’ 29-22 win over the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld.

The 25-year-old appeared before a disciplinary committee on Wednesday and was suspended for four weeks.

“Williams was red-carded for contravention of 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,” United Rugby Championship (URC) said in a statement.

“The disciplinary panel of Pamela Woodman (Chair, Scotland), Nigel Williams (Wales) and Shane O’Driscoll (Ireland) considered all of the evidence available and concluded that the referee’s decision to issue the red card was not wrong and so upheld the red card.

“The Player did not accept that he had committed an act of foul play nor that it warranted a red card.

“But, the panel revealed that there was contact with the head of his opponent and ruled that Williams’ actions were reckless and they determined that the entry point be mid-range which carried a suspension of six weeks.

“However the panel considered his previous good record, his apology to his opponent and exemplary behaviour during the process entitled him to mitigation. Accordingly, the Panel determined that it would reduce the sanction by 2 weeks as a result of those mitigating factors.

“As a result, Willimas has been banned for a period of four weeks.”

Williams’ ban will include two games in the Currie Cup and two games in the United Rugby Championship. He is free to play on Sunday, March 13.