The Sharks have suffered a major blow ahead of their Super Rugby clash against the Crusaders this weekend.
Sharks centre Francois Steyn has been banned for five weeks after SANZAR won an appeal against its own judicial process, which initially cleared the former Springbok of making a dangerous tackle.
Steyn was sent off for a tip tackle on the Chiefs and All Blacks first five Aaron Cruden in their Super Rugby match last month in Durban.
In that match, Referee Angus Gardner’s decision to red card the Sharks center was questioned after the television match official recommended just a yellow card.
A disciplinary hearing said the red card should be removed from Steyn’s record because two other Sharks players were involved in the tackle.
But SANZAR has successfully overturned that decision and Steyn will now miss four games including his teammate Bismark du Plessis who was suspended for four weeks for kicking another player.
The Sharks play the Crusaders at 2am this Sunday.
Source: planetrugby.com
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