Horwill banned for one week

Cape Town - Reds lock James Horwill will miss his side's Super Rugby clash against the Bulls at Loftus next week after Sanzar banned the former Wallabies captain for striking Rebels prop Paul Alo-Emile in their 23-15 loss to the Melbourne side.

Sanzar duty judicial officer (DJO) Nicholas Davidson QC accepted a guilty plea from Horwill for contravening Law 10.4 (a) (punching or striking).

Horwill was sent off for the offence, which took place in the 21st minute of the match, has subsequently been suspended from all forms of rugby for one week up to and including April 11.

The incident occurred in the 21st minute of the match between the Rebels and Reds at AAMI Park in Melbourne on Friday.

In his finding, Davidson ruled the following:

"I found this was a strike with a swinging arm to the back of neck of (Paul) Alo-Emile.

"The explanation that the arm was used to gain momentum at the breakdown was not tenable.

"There was no attempt to engage.

"The strike was of no effect with no injury to the Rebels player.

"This was in summary, an ineffectual strike other than its impact on the game as Horwill was red carded in the 21st minute of the match.

"A submission that this was relevant to setting a lower entry point for sanction was rejected.

"There is an adverse effect on the game as a whole following a red card.  

"Horwill has attracted media attention in the disciplinary context but his actual transgressions are few despite over 100 Super Rugby games and 59 Test matches for Australia.

"He had one off field yellow card (now citing commissioner warning) in 2013 and came before the Sanzar judiciary in 2015 for two yellow cards in the same match for technical breaches.

"Nothing was added for aggravating factors and in mitigation, he is entitled to some allowance for his acceptance of the indicated sanction and his recognition that this was clearly unacceptable for which he apologised to the Rebels player and also during the hearing.

"In the circumstances, the two-week entry point is reduced to one week and Horwill is suspended up to and including Saturday, April 11."

All Sanzar disciplinary matters are in the first instance referred to a duty judicial officer hearing 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.