Publications
Partners
Cape Town - Crusaders wing Nemani Nadolo has been suspended for a month following a lifting tackle in their Super Rugby clash against the Brumbies in Canberra on Sunday.
SANZAAR duty judicial officer Chris Morris accepted a guilty plea from Nadolo for contravening Law 10.4 (j) - Lifting tackle - after he was cited following the game.
Nadolo performed a dangerous tackle on Brumbies scrumhalf Tomas Cubelli, lifting him from the ground and placing him in a dangerous position.
Nadolo has been suspended from all forms of the game for four weeks - which will see him miss three Super Rugby games.
In his finding, Morris ruled the following:
"Nemani Nadolo appeared before a SANZAAR duty judicial officer having been cited in the match between the Crusaders and the Brumbies for a breach of Law 10.4 (j). He was represented by Mr Aaron Lloyd.
"During the hearing the player pleaded guilty to the charge.
"After careful consideration of the available evidence and the very helpful submissions of Mr Lloyd the offence was categorised as low-end which carries a four-week suspension.
"I took into account as mitigating factors the player's disciplinary record after a lengthy professional career, his guilty plea and the fact that the tackle was reckless rather than deliberate. The player was therefore given a two week discount on the original sanction creating a recommended sanction of two weeks.
"I took into account World Rugby memorandums about lifting tackles and the need to deter this very action from the game. As such I found it necessary to add two additional weeks to the recommended sanction.
"The player is accordingly suspended from all rugby for four weeks until 21 May 2016 which effectively is a three match Super Rugby suspension. We were provided with proof that he would have been selected to play in a club match on 30 April 2016, which the player will also miss as a result of the suspension.”
