Vodacom Bulls flank forward Danie Rossouw was suspended for one week on Monday, after a Sanzar judicial hearing found him guilty of committing a dangerous tackle in the Vodacom Super 14 match against the Vodacom Stormers at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.
Rossouw appeared before Sanzar judicial officer Nape Dolamo at the Ellis Park offices in Johannesburg after he was cited by citing commissioner Luvuyo Matsha.
Dolamo said the citing was upheld because video evidence showed conclusively that Rossouw had tackled Stormers eighth man Justin Melck in a dangerous manner.
The tackle was executed by Rossouw lifting both the player’s feet off the ground and driving him in such a way that Melck landed dangerously with his head and the top of his left shoulder on the ground.
In imposing the sanction, Dolamo took into consideration that Rossouw was not the only Bulls player involved in the incident. Video evidence showed his teammate Victor Matfield also tackled Melck at the same time.
Dolamo said he imposed a one-week suspension after he took into consideration that Rossouw had completed nine matches in the Vodacom Super 14 competition without drawing a caution or being cited for foul play; that the incident did not result in any injury to his opponent; and that another player was also involved in the incident.
Rossouw was represented by his attorney, Adriaan Venter, and Bulls team manager Wynie Strydom. — Sapa