Sharks hooker Armand van der Merwe will miss the next three weeks of rugby after he was suspended for three weeks for physical abuse.
As per sanzaar rules Armand van der Merwe had to plead guilty and accept the penalty offered by the Foul Play Review Committee.
The SANZAAR Foul Play Review Committee has subsequently accepted a guilty plea from Van der Merwe of the Sharks for contravening Law 9.12: A player must not physically abuse anyone, after he was Red Carded during a Super Rugby Match at the Weekend.
Van der Merwe has been suspended from all forms of the game for 3 weeks, up to and including 19 April 2019.
The incident occurred in the 58th minute of the match between the Sharks and Bulls played at Johnson Kings Park in Durban on 30 March 2019.
The SANZAAR Foul Play Review Committee of Adam Casselden SC (Chairman), Stefan Terblanche and Eroni Clarke assessed the case.
In his finding, Foul Play Review Committee Chairman Adam Casselden SC ruled the following:
“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, Attie Heyns, the Foul Play Review Committee upheld the Red Card 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 6 weeks due to the World Rugby instructions that dictate any incident of foul play involving contact with the head must start at a mid-range level. The evidence demonstrated the Player contacted the opposing Player’s head with multiple punches. However, taking into account mitigating factors including the Player’s good judicial record and the fact the Player has pleaded guilty at the first available opportunity, the Foul Play Review Committee reduced the suspension to 3 weeks.”
“The player is therefore suspended for 3 weeks, up to and including 19 April 2019.”
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.
Foul Play Review Committee: Adam Casselden SC (Chairman), Eroni Clarke and Stefan Terblanche
Player: Armand van der Merwe
Team: Sharks
Position: Hooker
Date of Incident: 30 March 2019
Nature of Offence: Law 9.12: A player must not physically abuse anyone. Physical abuse includes, but is not limited to punching or striking with the hand or arm.
Elapsed time in match when incident occurred: 58min
