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Cape Town - Highlanders hooker Brayden Mitchell has been suspended for three weeks after performing a dangerous tackle on Stormers fullback Jaco Taute.
As it happened: Stormers v Highlanders
The incident occurred in the 66th minute of the Super Rugby match between the Stormers and Highlanders at Newlands last Saturday.
SANZAR duty judicial officer Adam Casselden accepted a guilty plea from Mitchell for contravening Law 10.4 (j) - Lifting Tackle - after he was cited following the match, which the Stormers won 29-28.
Mitchell was subsequently suspended from all forms of the game for three weeks, up to and including May 24.
In his finding, Casselden ruled the following:
"After initially reviewing the video footage and citing commissioner's report, I heard submissions from the player's representatives, including his counsel Mr Aaron Lloyd and obtained their views of the incident. I then proceeded by establishing that the player accepted a breach for the cited offence and then identified the various factors involved in the incident.
"I considered the incident had an entry point in the low end range which starts at a four-week suspension. I then added two weeks as a deterrent to send a message that this type of offending cannot be tolerated in the game due to the risk it poses to players.
"Based on the guilty plea of the player indicating contrition for his action, acceptance of the indicated sanction and the player’s excellent disciplinary record along with testament to his good character, a discount was given to bring the suspension to three weeks. The player is suspended up to and including Saturday, 24 May 2014."
All SANZAR disciplinary matters are in the first instance referred to a duty judicial officer hearing (DJO) to provide the option of expediting the judicial process.
For a matter to be dispensed with at this hearing, the person appearing must plead guilty and accept the penalty offered by the DJO.
As it happened: Stormers v Highlanders
The incident occurred in the 66th minute of the Super Rugby match between the Stormers and Highlanders at Newlands last Saturday.
SANZAR duty judicial officer Adam Casselden accepted a guilty plea from Mitchell for contravening Law 10.4 (j) - Lifting Tackle - after he was cited following the match, which the Stormers won 29-28.
Mitchell was subsequently suspended from all forms of the game for three weeks, up to and including May 24.
In his finding, Casselden ruled the following:
"After initially reviewing the video footage and citing commissioner's report, I heard submissions from the player's representatives, including his counsel Mr Aaron Lloyd and obtained their views of the incident. I then proceeded by establishing that the player accepted a breach for the cited offence and then identified the various factors involved in the incident.
"I considered the incident had an entry point in the low end range which starts at a four-week suspension. I then added two weeks as a deterrent to send a message that this type of offending cannot be tolerated in the game due to the risk it poses to players.
"Based on the guilty plea of the player indicating contrition for his action, acceptance of the indicated sanction and the player’s excellent disciplinary record along with testament to his good character, a discount was given to bring the suspension to three weeks. The player is suspended up to and including Saturday, 24 May 2014."
All SANZAR disciplinary matters are in the first instance referred to a duty judicial officer hearing (DJO) to provide the option of expediting the judicial process.
For a matter to be dispensed with at this hearing, the person appearing must plead guilty and accept the penalty offered by the DJO.
