March 23 - 2015 SANZAR judicial saga

“CHRONICLE OF EVENTS

MARCH

23rd. SANZAR judiciary finds Sharks back Francois Steyn not guilty of a lifting tackle on Chiefs player Aaron Cruden and cancel the red card he received in the match at the weekend.

25th. SANZAR appeal the ruling of their judiciary.

31st. SANZAR Appeals Committee uphold the appeal and Steyn is banned for the next four Sharks matches.”

2016 RUGBY ALMANAC “Chronicle of Events” pp.374-5.

“At a SANZAR judicial hearing on 23 March 2015, SANZAR Judicial Officer Jannie Lubbe SC found Francois Steyn not guilty of contravening Law 10.4 (j), which provides; Lifting a player from the ground and dropping or driving that player into the ground whilst that player’s feet are still off the ground such that the player’s head and/or upper body come into contact with the ground is dangerous play.

SANZAR NEWS RELEASE

A SANZAR Appeals Committee, chaired by Terry Willis (Australia) and comprising Nigel Hampton QC (New Zealand) and Robert Stelzner SC (South Africa), has allowed an appeal by SANZAR against the verdict of a judicial hearing that cleared Francois Steyn of a lifting tackle.

The Appeals Committee unanimously upheld the appeal brought by SANZAR and found that Steyn breached Law 10.4 (j) and that the referee was correct to red card the player during the match between the Sharks and the Chiefs played at Growthpoint KINGS PARK in Durban on Saturday 21 March 2015.

The Committee determined that the relevant sanction was four matches. After taking into consideration the Sharks’ bye in Round 11, Steyn was suspended from all forms of the game up to and including 3 May 2015.”

http://www.eprugby.co.za/frans-steyn-suspended/