Bloemfontein - Free State Cheetahs forward Francois Uys has been suspended from all rugby for two weeks after a SARU disciplinary hearing found him guilty of striking an opponent with the head in the face.

Uys, who plays as a lock or a flank, was cited by citing commissioner, Freek Burger, for breaching Law 10.4 (a). He allegedly struck a Griquas player with the head in their Currie Cup clash in Kimberley last week.

He pleaded guilty but denied that contact was made with the face of the opponent as stated in the report by the citing commissioner. Free State won the game 29-16.

In the disciplinary hearing that was conducted in Bloemfontein earlier this week, advocate Jannie Lubbe found the player guilty of the offence. In his sentencing Lubbe found no aggravating circumstances to increase the recommended sanction of four week as a deterrent.

He did found compelling mitigating circumstances, amongst them the player being a first-time offender who pleaded guilty and has shown true remorse.

A suspension of two weeks was deemed the appropriate sanction and Uys is not allowed to play any rugby for the period from August 25 up to September 8. He will therefore miss the Cheetahs' clash against the Sharks in Durban this weekend, as well as their home clash against Western Province next week.

Meanwhile, Griffons Under-21 flyhalf, Ryno Venter, was also suspended for two weeks after he was found guilty of a dangerous tackle during an incident against Griquas Under-21 in Kimberley last week.

Venter pleaded guilty and Lubbe handed him a two-week suspension. Because the player was a first-time offender, still young with a clean record and showed true remorse, the recommended four week suspension was halved to two weeks and he therefore cannot play again until after September 8.