The Vodacom Bulls will be anxiously waiting the outcome of a surprise citing for captain Marcel Coetzee following his yellow card in the win over Ulster on Saturday.
Coetzee was carded for making head contact with Ulster lock Ben Donnell during the Bulls win and the decision was sent for off-field review, which found it was only a yellow card and not deserving of anything more.
But surprisingly, the Vodacom United Rugby Championship’s disciplinary committee has decided that Coetzee’s action was worthy of a citing, and he is alleged to have breached Laws 9.20(a) and 9.20(b), which prohibit dangerous play at a ruck or maul, including charging into an opponent without binding and making contact above the shoulders.
The disciplinary hearing will take place via video conference, with Ben Rutherford (Ireland) chairing a panel that also includes Declan Goodwin and Chris Morgan (Wales).
The Bulls have loads of depth at loose forward, with Springboks Cameron Hanekom, Elrigh Louw, Marco van Staden and top players Hanru Liebenberg, Jeandre Rudolph, and Nizaam Carr all available if needed to cover Coetzee’s position.
But the captain will want to be at the helm for the final game before the four week break against Welsh side Scarlets and was in good form on Saturday, scoring two tries in the match despite his yellow card.
The Bulls will name their team on Thursday after the outcome of the disciplinary hearing.