WRWC: SA eye-gouger banned

 

Williams, the No.8 of the team, appered before an independent Judicial Officer in Paris after the match in which she was cited for foul play.

 

The captain was said to have contravened Law 10.4(a) namely, striking a player with the fist or arm and Law 10.4(m) namely, acts contrary to good sportsmanship (contact with the eye(s) or eye area).

 

Having heard all the evidence, the Judicial Officer determined that in relation to the acts contrary to Law 10.4(m), the player’s actions warranted a mid-range sanction, which has an entry point of 18 weeks. 

 

Having applied various aggravating and mitigating factors including the player’s clean disciplinary record, the final sanction stands at 16 weeks.  The Judicial Officer further imposed a sanction of 2 weeks in relation to the acts contrary to Law 10.4(a) which will run concurrently. 

 

In the context of the tournament, this means the player will miss the remaining 4 matches of the tournament and is suspended for a further 7 weeks until the end of the South African Rugby season.

 

The remaining five weeks of the suspension are to be served at the start of next Rugby season in South Africa. 

 

The player has the right to appeal.