The Toyota Cheetahs winger, Munier Hartzenberg, is set to miss the first two rounds of the SA Cup after receiving a suspension.

Hartzenberg has been banned for two matches following his red card against Oyonnax in France on Saturday in the EPCR Challenge Cup after playing a man in the air.

The player who was playing in just his second game after returning from a long-term injury was initially banned for four games, however, he pleaded guilty and the sanction was halved.

In a statement by the EPCR Challenge Cup the tournament confirmed that Hartzenberg will only miss out for two games.

“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% before imposing a two-week suspension.”

He will miss the games against the Boland Cavaliers and the Leopards, but he will be available for the EPCR Challenge Cup round of 16 clash against Clermont.

Daniel Kasende who received a yellow card for also taking man out in the air also attended a disciplinary hearing, but this does not relate to his ten minutes in the sin bin. It’s for another incident in the game where he is said to had made use of his elbow or forearm in the contact. The verdict in this case is still pending.

Morgan Piek OFM Sport