Cape Town - The SANZAAR Foul Play Review Committee has accepted a guilty plea from Rynhardt Elstadt of the Stormers for contravening Law 10.4(a) Striking another Player with the hand, arm or fist, after he was Red Carded during a Super Rugby Match at the weekend.
Elstadt has been suspended from all forms of the game up to and including Saturday, July 8.
The incident occurred in the 80th minute of the match between Cheetahs and Stormers played in Bloemfontein on July, 1.
The SANZAAR Foul Play Review Committee of Nigel Hampton QC (Chairman), Stefan Terblanche and Stephen Hardy assessed the case.
In his finding, Foul Play Review Committee Chairman Nigel Hampton QC ruled the following:
"Having conducted a detailed review of all the available evidence, including all camera angles and additional evidence, including from the player and submissions from his legal representative, Marius Botha, the Foul Play Review Committee upheld the ordering off under Law 10.4(a)"
"With respect to sanction the Foul Play Review Committee deemed the act of foul play merited a low end entry point of 2 weeks, particularly having regard to the relatively minor nature of the impact. However, taking into account mitigating factors including the Player's admission of guilt at the first available opportunity, the Foul Play Review Committee reduced the suspension to 1 week."
"The player is therefore suspended for 1 week, up to and including Saturday July, 8.”
All SANZAAR disciplinary matters are in the first instance referred to the Foul Play Review Committee 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 Foul Play Review Committee.