The Cell C Sharks wing, Makazole Mapimpi, has been suspended for two weeks following an independent Disciplinary Hearing arising from his club’s Heineken Champions Cup, Round 3 match against Union Bordeaux-Bègles at Hollywoodbets Kings Park.
Mapimpi was cited by the match Citing Commissioner, Brian Campsall (England), for making contact with the eye or eye area of the Union Bordeaux-Bègles scrum half, Maxime Lucu, in the 36th minute of the match in contravention of Law 9.12.
Evidence and submissions were also heard from Lucu and from the EPCR Disciplinary Officer, Liam McTiernan.
The committee upheld the citing complaint, finding that Mapimpi had made reckless contact with Lucu’s eye area which warranted a red card 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.
Due to the player’s clear disciplinary record, it was decided to grant him the full 50% mitigation and the committee, therefore, reduced the sanction by two weeks before imposing a two-week suspension.
Mapimpi is free to play on Monday, 30 January and both he and EPCR have the right to appeal the decision.
Law 9.12 A player must not physically abuse anyone.
Under World Rugby’s Sanctions for Foul Play, Law 9.12 relating to contact with the eye or eye area carries the following sanction entry points - Low End: 4 weeks; Mid-range: 8 weeks; Top end: 12 to 52 weeks
An independent Disciplinary Committee comprising Antony Davies (England), Chair, Leon Lloyd (England) and Donal Courtney (Ireland) heard submissions from Mapimpi, from the player’s legal representative, Attie Heyns, from the Cell C Sharks Team Manager, Trevor Barnes, and from the Cell C Sharks Head of Team Culture, André Barnard.
