Wiese banned for four matches

Springbok No 8 Jasper Wiese has been suspended for four matches following a World Rugby disciplinary hearing on Tuesday for the red card he received in last week’s 45-0 victory against Italy.

Wiese will be back in contention for selection for the last three Castle Lager Rugby Championship matches in September and October.

The ban will rule him out of the closing Castle Lager Incoming Series match against Georgia in Nelspruit on Saturday, as well as the first three Castle Lager Rugby Championship Tests against Australia in Johannesburg and Cape Town respectively (16 and 23 August) and the first game against New Zealand in Auckland (6 September).

He will be free to play the second All Blacks Test in Wellington (13 September), and the two matches against Argentina in Durban and London (27 September and 4 October).

The disciplinary committee was chaired by Rhian Willians (Wales), joined by former international match officials Donal Courtney (Ireland) and Valeriu Tomu (Romania).

Wiese accepted that foul play had occurred but did not accept that the offence warranted a red card.

The disciplinary committee considered the player’s submissions, along with the clips and other available evidence and found that the red card was upheld. While the red card issued was for Law 9.11 (a player must not do anything reckless or dangerous), the committee agreed that the offence should be 9.12 (striking with the head).

The committee considered the appropriate entry point for the offending and decided that the offence warranted a low-end entry point of six matches. Having considered submissions as regards mitigation, the committee decided on a final sanction of four matches.