Coetzee handed hefty ban in blow to the Bulls
Marcell Coetzee has been suspended for three URC matches following his red card for the Bulls in the Round five match against Edinburgh.
Capped Springbok flanker Marcell Coetzee has been suspended for three United Rugby Championship matches following his red card for the Bulls in the Round five match against Edinburgh.
SPRINGBOK FLANKER HANDED HEFTY BAN
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Coetzee was sent off for a high tackle on Edinburgh’s Pierre Schoeman early in the second half.
If he is able to complete the World Rugby Coaching Intervention Programme, the sanction will be reduced by one game.
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Coetzee’s previous disciplinary record was good and as such he saw his ban reduced by 50 percent. However the star flanker will still miss a crucial string of games for the Bulls.
DC DECISION ON COETZEE
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The decision reads: “After an act of foul play by Coetzee, referee Chris Busby showed the player a Red Card in the 42nd 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 independent Disciplinary Committee overseeing the disciplinary process (Ben Rutherford, Chair (IRFU), Donal Courtney (IRFU), Jan Gedrych (WRU)), he accepted that he had committed an act of foul play but contested that it warranted a Red Card.
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“The Committee considered all of the evidence against the High Contact Process and found that the incident did meet the Red Card threshold, with entry of mid-range warranting 6 weeks.
“The Player received three weeks (50%) mitigation due, in particular, to his previously exemplary disciplinary record which results in a three game suspension.
“Should the player complete the World Rugby Coaching Intervention Programme, the sanction will be reduced by one game.”