Arendse banned for four weeks

Springbok winger Kurt-Lee Arendse will miss a month of rugby for his aerial challenge of All Black Beauden Barrett that resulted in a red card during Saturday’s Springbok win over the All Blacks.

A Sanzaar disciplinary committee met on Monday and handed down a four week suspension for Arendse, who is already out of the game because of concussion protocol following the hit he sustained in the clash.

Arendse will only, therefore, be available for selection for the Argentina game in Durban on the 24th of September.

Arendse pleaded guilty to the charge, which hastened the decision.

“The SANZAAR Foul Play Review Committee has accepted a guilty plea from Kurt-Lee Arendse of South Africa for contravening Law 9.17: A player must not tackle, charge, pull, push or grasp an opponent whose feet are off the ground, after he was Red Carded during a Rugby Championship Match at the Weekend,” a Sanzaar release said.

“Arendse has been suspended from all forms of the game up to and including 17 September 2022.

The incident occurred in the 74th minute of the match between South Africa and New Zealand played at Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit on 6 August 2022.

“The SANZAAR Foul Play Review Committee of Michael Heron QC (Chairman), Stefan Terblanche and John Langford assessed the case.”

In his finding, Foul Play Review Committee Chairman Michael Heron QC 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 9.17."

"With respect to sanction the Foul Play Review Committee considered the act of foul play was reckless, highly dangerous and had a considerable impact on the victim player. The Committee accepted it was not deliberate and after considering all relevant factors decided the foul play merited a mid-range entry point of 8 weeks. However, taking into account mitigating factors including the Player's clean judicial record and his acceptance of guilt at the first available opportunity, the Foul Play Review Committee reduced the suspension to 4 weeks."

"The player is therefore suspended for 4 weeks, up to and including 17 September 2022.”

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.

The All Black coach Ian Foster complained loudly after the incident, saying he would take South Africa’s aerial bombardment up with World Rugby and asked for more “protection” in the air for his players from officials.