The Toyota Cheetahs wing, Dan Kasende, has been suspended for three weeks following an independent Disciplinary Hearing arising from his club’s EPCR Challenge Cup, Round 4 match against Oyonnax Rugby at Stade Charles-Mathon.
Kasende was cited by the match Citing Commissioner, Eric Jara Literas (Spain), for striking the Oyonnax Rugby No 8, Loic Godener, with his forearm in a dangerous manner in the 54th minute of the match in contravention of Law 9.11.
Law 9.11 A player must not do anything that is reckless or dangerous to others, including leading with the elbow or forearm
Under World Rugby’s Sanctions for Foul Play, Law 9.11 carries the following sanction entry points - Low End: 2 weeks; Mid-range: 6 weeks; Top end: 10 to 52 weeks
An independent Disciplinary Committee comprising Katherine Mackie (Scotland), Chair, Mirian Tavzarashvili (Georgia) and Tony Wheat (Ireland) studied video imagery of the incident and heard evidence from Kasende 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 Director of Rugby, Frans Steyn, from the Toyota Cheetahs Team Manager, Ashwell Rafferty, and from the EPCR Disciplinary Officer, Liam McTiernan.
The committee upheld the complaint finding that Kasende had recklessly struck Godener in the neck with a leading forearm that warranted a red card and it determined that the offending was at the mid-range of World Rugby’s sanctions and six 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 three-week suspension.
As Kasende 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, 8 April. If he applies for and successfully completes a World Rugby Coaching Intervention, he will be free to play on Monday, 1 April.