Schoeman cops five-week ban for red card

The Emirates Lions have lost their bulky lock Ruben Schoeman until at least the end of February after his illegal cleanout that resulted in a red card against the DHL Stormers was given a five match suspension.

Schoeman charged into a ruck illegally in the 20th minute of the game between the two sides on December 21, earning himself a red card from referee Chris Allison, and contravening Law 9.20a - Dangerous play in a ruck or maul. A player must not charge into a ruck or maul. Charging includes any contact made without binding onto another player in the ruck or maul.

While Schoeman apologised and admitted he was in the wrong, his previous red cards over the past 13 months counted against him and earned him an extra two weeks suspension. He is now banned until after the Lions host the Vodacom Bulls in their Vodacom United Rugby Championship match on 22 February, meaning he will miss both remaining EPCR Challenge Cup pool games as well.

As the judicial officer Rose Alice Murphy of Ireland noted in her finding, Schoeman “ had accepted that he had committed an act of foul play which warranted a Red Card.

“Mrs. Murphy found that the incident met the Red Card threshold, with entry of mid-range warranting six weeks. The Player received 3 weeks (50%) mitigation for his apology, admission of foul play and conducting himself well in the abbreviated process.

“However, the Player has received two other Red Cards for foul play in the last 13 months which have resulted in suspensions, one of which was reduced by one week because the Player benefited from the World Rugby Coaching Intervention Programme.

“The Player's previous record was therefore considered as an aggravating factor warranting a further two weeks of sanction. This results in a five game suspension.”

The Lions will regard his unavailability as a massive setback as they have lost their last three URC games and won one and lost one fixture in the Challenge Cup thus far.

FIXTURES RUBEN SCHOEMAN IS UNAVAILABLE FOR:

Montpellier v Emirates Lions, 11 January 2025, EPCR Challenge Cup

Emirates Lions v Dragons RFC, 18 January 2025, EPCR Challenge Cup

Emirates Lions v Vodacom Bulls, 25 January 2025, Vodacom URC

Emirates Lions v DHL Stormers, 15 February 2025, Vodacom URC

Vodacom Bulls v Emirates Lions, 22 February 2025, Vodacom URC