Banned - All Black prop Owen Franks pleads guilty

All Blacks and Crusaders prop Owen Franks has pleaded guilty to striking following his side’s match with the Blues this weekend.

The SANZAAR Foul Play Review Committee has accepted a guilty plea from the Crusaders prop for contravening Law 9.12: Striking a player with the arm, after he was Cited during a Super Rugby Match at the Weekend.

Franks has been suspended from all forms of the game for 2 weeks, up to and including Saturday 2 June 2018. The incident occurred in the 36th minute of the match between the Blues and Crusaders played at Eden Park in Auckland on 19 May 2018.

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Tevita Nabura of the Highlanders received a Red Card for foul play during a Super Rugby match at the weekend.

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 a statement from the player and submissions from his legal representative, Aaron Lloyd, the Foul Play Review Committee upheld the citing under Law 9.12.”

“With respect to sanction the Foul Play Review Committee deemed the act of foul play merited a mid-range entry point of 4 weeks. However, taking into account mitigating factors including the players good record over an extensive playing history which includes only one previous judicial sanction, his expressed remorse and apology to the other player, and the Player’s guilty plea at the first available opportunity, the Foul Play Review Committee reduced the suspension to 2 weeks.”

“The player is therefore suspended for 2 weeks, up to and including Saturday 2 June 2018.”

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.