Engelbrecht free to play after citing

DHL Stormers flank Willie Engelbrecht is free to play after being cleared by an independent panel following a citing from the Vodacom Bulls.

Engelbrecht was cited by the opposition for dangerous play in the DHL Stormers’ 37-27 victory in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship Round 10 encounter at DHL Stadium on Friday.

Engelbrecht was alleged to have made contact with the head and neck area of a Vodacom Bulls player in a clean out early in the game, but the panel found his actions neither reckless nor intentional and did not warrant a red card. He is free to play in the match against the Emirates Lions on Saturday.

DHL Stormers Head Coach John Dobson said that a citing of this nature is quite disappointing.

“It is unfortunate to have spurious citings for incidents like this and I fear we may be on a slippery slope if this is the sort of thing teams are citing for.

“We are happy that the panel dismissed this so that we maintain our good record in disciplinary hearings of this nature,” he said.