South Africans dominate Super Rugby 'Bad Boy Club'

Four players, including three South Africans, will appear before SANZAAR’s disciplinary panels after this weekend’s Round 15 Super Rugby matches.

Sharks captain Ruan Botha received a Red Card for foul play during his side’s 13-29 defeat to the Jaguares at Vélez Sarsfield in Buenos Aires.

Botha is alleged to have contravened Law 9.12 – Striking with the shoulder in the closing stages of the match.

Joining the Red Card Club are Stormers wing Raymond Rhule and Reds hooker Folau Fainga’a. Rhule received a Red Card for foul play during the Stormers’ 23-26 defeat to Lions at Newlands in Cape Town on Saturday.

Rhule is alleged to have contravened Law 9.25 – A player must not intentionally charge or obstruct an opponent who has just kicked the ball.

Fainga’a received a Red Card for foul play during Brumbies’ 38-28 win over the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria. Fainga’a is alleged to have contravened Law 9.12 – Striking with the head.

All three cases will be considered in the first instance by the SANZAAR Foul Play Review Committee which will take place at the designated times via video-conference.

Botha will face the Foul Play Review Commitee on Sunday, while Rhule and Fainga’a will have their date on Monday.

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.

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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.

*While Stormers centre Johannes Engelbrecht, who received a yellow card and a warning during Saturday’s defeat to the Bulls will also appear before the Foul Play Review Committee on Monday.

Engelbrecht received a Yellow Card for a tip tackle he executed in the 36th minute of the match.

The centre also received a Warning from the Citing Commissioner for contravening Law 9.13 – A player must not tackle an opponent early, late or dangerously, during the same match.

A Warning may be issued by the SANZAAR Citing Commissioner for foul play incidents that are very close to, but in his opinion do not meet, the Red Card threshold for citings.

As a result of being issued with the Warning, Engelbrecht is in breach of SANZAAR Disciplinary Rule 6.1.

SANZAAR Disciplinary Rule 6.1 states:
“6.1: If a Player has received two Warnings or a combination of a Warning and a Yellow Card during a match, he shall be treated for disciplinary purposes as if he has been sent off.”