Vodacom Super 14
Stormer suspended over brawl
2010-03-15 22:54
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Lionel Cronjé (Gallo Images)
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Stephen NellCape Town – The Stormers have suspended flyhalf Lionel Cronjé for two weeks after he was involved in a fight in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Cronjé, 20, was held by the police on Sunday and released on a warning in the evening.
“Lionel will not be considered for the Stormers for the next two weeks because of disciplinary reasons. Whether he was at fault or not in the incident, it comes down to a breach of our code of conduct. He should not have become involved,” said Stormers coach Allister Coetzee.
The suspension effectively comes down to one game because the Stormers have a bye after Saturday’s Super 14 match against the Cheetahs at Newlands before they embark on a tour of Australia and New Zealand.
Coetzee spoke to Cronjé, who was named South Africa’s under-20 player of the year in 2009, on Monday.
“Lionel has my full support, but there are protocols the players have to follow. It’s a pity that the team is being linked to something like this. Lionel has the team’s support,” said Coetzee.
Cronjé was on the Stormers’ bench for Saturday’s 37-13 victory over the Hurricanes at Newlands.
It is believed that there was a function with the Stormers and Hurricanes players after the game, but in terms of what is understood from Western Province rugby circles, the incident occurred when Cronjé went out afterwards.
He was apparently on his way to his car when the fight broke out. Cronjé was injured and was taken to hospital on Sunday night for a medical examination.
He reported at WP’s high performance centre in Bellville on Monday morning.
Coetzee was planning to release Cronjé to play for WP’s Vodacom Cup side in Saturday’s match against Border at Newlands.
Willem de Waal or Conrad Hoffmann will take his place in the Stormers’ squad for Saturday’s match against the Cheetahs.
Meanwhile, Vania van der Heever reports that Cronjé’s lawyer, Gerrie Swart, said that his client had been released on a warning and has not appeared in court.
However, Claremont police spokesperson Capt Angie Lachman said that Cronjé had appeared briefly in the Wynberg Magistrates Court on a charge of assault.