Head-butting Cheetah banned

Free State Cheetahs lock Francois Uys has been suspended from all rugby for two weeks, after a SARU disciplinary hearing found him guilty of striking an opponent with the head in the face.

Uys was cited by the citing commissioner, Freek Burger, for breach of Law 10.4 (a) in that he struck a Griquas player with the head in their encounter on last Saturday, August 25, in Kimberley.

He pleaded guilty, but denied that contact was made with the face of the opponent - as stated in the report by the citing commissioner.

In the disciplinary hearing that was conducted in Bloemfontein, Jannie Lubbe found the player guilty of the offence.

In his sentencing Lubbe found no aggravating circumstances to increase the recommended sanction of four week as a deterrent.

He did found compelling mitigating circumstances, amongst them the player being a first-time offender who pleaded guilty and has shown true remorse.

A suspension of two weeks was deemed the appropriate sanction and Uys is not allowed to play for the period from August 25 up to September 8.