The Disciplinary process related to Asenathi Nltabakanye Red Card in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship Round 12 game against Connacht on Saturday, March 24 has resulted in an three game suspension.
After an act of foul play by Emirates Lions player No 3 (Asenathi Nltabakanye), referee Craig Evans showed the Player a Red Card in the 15th minute of the game under Law 9.13 – A player must not tackle an opponent early, late or dangerously. Dangerous tackling includes, but is not limited to, tackling or attempting to tackle an opponent above the line of the shoulders even if the tackle starts below the line of the shoulders.
In the Player's responses to the Panel overseeing the disciplinary process (Simon Thomas, Chair (WRU), Nigel Williams (WRU), Beth Dickens (SRU)), he accepted that he had committed an act of foul play but that it had not warranted a Red Card. The Panel found that the incident met the Red Card threshold, with entry of mid-range warranting six weeks. The Player received three weeks (50%) mitigation due to his good record, apology to the player and his full engaged participation in the disciplinary process which results in a three game suspension.
Should the Player complete the World Rugby Coaching Intervention Programme then the sanction will be reduced by one week.
Fixtures Asenathi Nltabakanye is unavailable for:
Ospreys v Emirates Lions 30 March 2024, Vodacom URC
Benetton v Emirates Lions 6 April 2024, EPCR Challenge Cup
**EPCR Challenge Cup Quarter Final, 12/13/14 April
**Emirates Lions v Leinster 20 April 2024, Vodacom URC
**Should Emirates Lions not qualify for the EPCR Challenge Cup Quarter Final, the fixture against Leinster will stand as the third game suspension.