Vodacom Super 14
No action against Burger
2010-03-08 22:33
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No malice or intent. (Gallo Images)
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Stephen Nell
Cape Town – The South African Rugby Union (SARU) are not planning any action against Stormers captain Schalk Burger.
VIDEO:
Schalk slaps ref!The Springbok flanker struck referee Mark Lawrence lightly on the arm in Saturday’s Super 14 match at Newlands.
The incident came after Lawrence had intervened in a scuffle between Burger and Highlanders captain Jimmy Cowan.
SARU communications chief Andy Colquhoun told Sport24 that SARU referees boss André Watson had reviewed the incident and also spoken to Lawrence about it. He decided then that there would not be further action.
“If there are any real incidents of players manhandling referees, we will view it in a very serious light,” Colquhoun said on Watson’s behalf.
Lawrence already said on Sunday that there was nothing in the Burger incident.
Stormers coach Allister Coetzee emphasised on Monday that it had been an accident.
“I think Schalk was hit by Cowan and for him it was like another Highlander joining in. There was no malice or intent,” said Coetzee.
“It was just a reaction and he probably got a huge fright when he saw it was the referee. Mark also saw it in that light.”