Elstadt gets one-match suspension

Elstadt was suspended under rule 6.1, for receiving three yellow cards in the Super Rugby season.

He has been suspended from all forms of the game for the week up to and including 30 June, with the effect of precluding him from playing his next scheduled match against the Lions on that date.

In his finding, Mr Heron considered the circumstances of all three yellow cards, including the respective reports and footage of each incident, and discussed these with the player and his lawyer, Mr Erasmus.

It was accepted that the first two incidents were not serious incidents of foul play and his explanations of those were accepted.

The last incident, combined with the fact it was the third yellow card, was a matter which required further penalty in the view of Mr Heron.

The incident occurred in the 59th minute of the match between the Bulls and Stormers played at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on 2 June.

Elstadt was involved in a tackle where he made contact with Bulls player Akona Ndungane’s hair and continued holding his hair as they went to ground.

After discussion, Mr Heron gave an indication of penalty of an effective one-match suspension (taking into account each incident, all relevant circumstances and the playing schedule of Mr Elstadt – which involved no further matches until the Super Rugby match on 30 June).

The player, after discussion with his coach, his CEO and his counsel, accepted this penalty. Rynhardt Elstadt is therefore suspended from all forms of the game for the week up to and including Saturday 30 June 2012 (being the date of the next scheduled match, which is the Stormers v Lions match).