The disciplinary process related to Asenathi Nltabakanye's red card in the United Rugby Championship Round 12 game against Connacht last Saturday has resulted in an three game suspension.
After an act of foul play by Emirates Lions player No 3 (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 Nltabakanye is unavailable for: Ospreys v Lions on Saturday, URC; Benetton v Lions 6 April, EPCR Challenge Cup; **EPCR Challenge Cup quarter-final, 12/13/14 April; **Lions v Leinster 20 April, URC
**Should Emirates Lions not qualify for the EPCR Challenge Cup quarter-finals, the fixture against Leinster will stand as the third game of the suspension.
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