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Cape Town - The SANZAAR Foul Play Review Committee has accepted a guilty plea from Lions flank Kwagga Smith for contravening Law 10.4(i) Tackling, pushing, pulling, colliding with or otherwise making contact with an opponent who is jumping for the ball in a line out or in open play where there is no realistic prospect of the player competing for the ball, after he was red carded during the Super Rugby final on Saturday.
Smith has been suspended from all forms of the game for 4 weeks, up to and including September 2, 2017.
The incident occurred in the 38th minute of the match between the Lions and Crusaders at Ellis Park.
The SANZAAR Foul Play Review Committee of Nigel Hampton QC (Chairman), Stefan Terblanche and John Langford 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 a statement from
the player and submissions from his legal representative, Attie Heyns, the Foul
Play Review Committee upheld the ordering off and amended the charge from Law
10.4(e) to Law 10.4(i)."
"With respect to sanction the Foul Play Review Committee deemed the act of
foul play merited a mid-range entry point of 8 weeks. However, taking into
account mitigating factors including the Player's good Judicial record and the
Player's admission of guilt at the first available opportunity the Foul Play
Review Committee reduced the suspension to 4 weeks."
"The player is therefore suspended for 4 weeks, up to and including the September 2, 2017.”
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 player appearing must plead guilty and accept the penalty offered by the Foul Play Review Committee.
