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Cape Town - Waratahs wing Taqele Naiyaravoro has been handed a one-week suspension after pleading guilty to a charge of a dangerous tackle on Saturday.
SANZAAR Duty Judicial Officer Robert Stezner SC accepted a guilty plea from Naiyaravoro for contravening Law 10.4 (i) Tackling, tapping, pushing or pulling an opponent jumping for the ball in a line-out or in open play, after he was cited in the clash with the Hurricanes.
Naiyaravoro has been suspended from all forms of the game for one week up to and including Saturday, July 16.
The incident occurred in the 57th minute of the match between Waratahs and Hurricanes played at Allianz Stadium, Sydney.
SANZAAR Duty Judicial Officer Robert Stelzner SC assessed the case. In his finding, Stelzner ruled the following:
"Taqele Naiyaravoro (the player) and his representatives appeared before me and admitted a breach of the Law 10.4(i) charge.
"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, I upheld the citing under Law 10.4 (i) Tackling, tapping, pushing or pulling an opponent jumping for the ball in a lineout or in open play. With respect to sanction I deemed the act of foul play merited a low-end entry point of three weeks.
"There were no aggravating factors.
"As to mitigation, I took into account the player's good record, his early guilty plea, the circumstances of the incident itself – including the fact that it was unintentional, the player’s clear remorse, his opponent’s apparent acceptance of these facts and what would otherwise have been a disproportionate sanction to the level of offending, I considered a reduction of two weeks to be appropriate, making a suspension from all rugby for one week, up to and including Saturday 16 July 2016."
