The Toyota Cheetahs were dealt a blow when winger Munier Hartzenberg was suspended for two weeks after his red card in the EPCR Challenge Cup loss to Oyannax last weekend, but thanks to some local friendlies, he won’t miss the Round of 16 clash.
Hartzenberg, who has been in prolific try-scoring form of late, received the red card for a challenge in the air on Oyannax fullback Maxime Salles in the 19th minute of the match. In so he had to attend the disciplinary under Law 9.17: A player must not tackle an opponent whose feet are off the ground
Under World Rugby’s Sanctions for Foul Play, Law 9.17 carries the following sanction entry points - Low End: 4 weeks; Mid-range: 8 weeks; Top end: 12 to 52 weeks
An independent Disciplinary Committee comprising Roddy MacLeod (Scotland), Chair, Martyn Wood (England) and Chris Morgan (Wales) studied video imagery of the incident and heard evidence from Hartzenberg who accepted that he had committed an act of foul play but did not accept that it warranted a red card.
The committee also heard submissions from the player’s legal representative, Attie Heyns, from the Toyota Cheetahs Team Manager, Ashwell Rafferty, and from the EPCR Disciplinary Officer, Liam McTiernan.
The committee upheld the red card decision finding that Hartzenberg had tackled Salles in the air in a dangerous manner and it determined that the offending was at the low end of World Rugby’s sanctions and four weeks was selected as the appropriate entry point.
“Taking into account his acceptance that his actions amounted to foul play and his clear disciplinary record, the committee decided to reduce the sanction by the maximum of 50 per cent before imposing a two-week suspension,” the committee said.
“As Hartzenberg would have been considered for selection for the Toyota Cheetahs’ SA Cup matches against Boland on 23 March and against the Leopards on 30 March, he is free to play on Monday, 1 April. Both the player and EPCR have the right to appeal the decision.”