SANZAR hands over four-week suspension to Lions fly half Butch James – Rugby update
South Africa, New Zealand and Australia Rugby (SANZAR) have handed over a four-week ban to the South African Super Rugby franchise, Golden Lions’, fly half Butch James. SANZAR has announced the decision of the judicial hearing on Thursday, June 16.
Lions’ fly half was cited for his dangerous tackle on the Sharks flanker, Keegan Daniel, in their round 17 match against the Sharks at Ellis Park, Johannesburg on Saturday, June 11.The incident occurred in the 59th minute of the game, in which
the match referee Marius Jonker sin binned James.
At the end of the match, the SANZAR citing commissioner cited James for his tackle and termed it as dangerous as it involved Daniel’s neck and above the neck region. He charged James action as the violation of the International Rugby Board (IRB) law 10.
4 (e) that relates to the dangerous tackling of the opponent including a tackle or attempted tackle above the line of the shoulders even if the tackle starts below the line of the shoulders.
Butch James appeared before the Judicial hearing chaired by the SANZAR Judicial Officer Rob Stelzner. SANZAR announced the decision on James’ tackle after a delay of a couple of days after his hearing.
Stelzner in his decision found the Lions fly half James’ tackle in violation of the IRB law 10.4(e). The IRB recommended sanctions for offences under Law 10.4 (e) carries the following kinds of penalties: Low End: 2 - 3 weeks, Mid Range: 4-6 weeks and Top
End: 9 to 10 weeks and the maximum sanction of 52 weeks. Stelzner has placed the James’ offence as a mid-level offence and handed him a four-week suspension from participating in all sorts of Rugby.
Stelzner further added, “That in terms of Regulation 17, the commencement of the sanction is deferred to Monday June 20th.”
Lions are enjoying a bye in the last round of the 2011 Super Rugby competition and the ban will have little or no effect on them as they are already out of the Super XV play-offs competition.
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