Cheetahs wing Ryno Benjamin has been suspended for two weeks after a SANZAR Judicial Hearing found him guilty of headbutting an opponent during a Super Rugby match at the weekend.

The hearing was called after Benjamin received a red card for allegedly hitting Rebels centre Stirling Mortlock with his head during the match between the Cheetahs and the Melbourne Rebels in Bloemfontein.

SANZAR Judicial officer Janne Lubbe found the player guilty on the basis that he did not persuade the Judiciary that the referee’s reasons were incorrect for issuing a red card.

15 Responses to Benjamin only gets 2 weeks!

  • 1

    Only 2 weeks for headbut… that is light!

    What is the Afrikaans for headbutt… kopboude…. hahaha

  • 2

    ek hoop dit was n goeie shot,as jy geskors word moet jy darrem waarde kry vir dit

  • 4

    Well, Keven Mealamu got only two weeks for that massive head butt on Moody. At least something is consistent!

  • 5

    3@ smallies72:
    Janee kyk, as jy nie hier in die Panne met die kop kan baklei nie, het jy moeilikheid!

    Sommige ouens slaan hard met die kop, ander ouens keer weer so mooi met die kop… hehehe

  • 6

    But Kamana got 3 weeks for a tip tackle. Go figure.

  • 7

    Oh, and he must have done a sh1t job if the Aussie managed to get a punch in in retaliation.

  • 8

    If you’re going to hit with the head, do it properly and make sure the opposition’s nose is well and truly unable to smell much for a few weeks.

  • 9

    Geez, the blog is as dead as my social life at the moment.

  • 10

    Guess I should get on with trying to redesign a kakhuis building for 1200 people, and find another innovative way to create rump and fillet from an old abandoned building somewhere in the Free State.

  • 12

    11@ smallies72:
    But not in the context of the two incidences.

    Kamana’s tackle was in no way dangerous enough to cause a disabling injury, as the referee adjudged on the field by awarding a yellow card only.

    A head butt though is nothing more than assault with the specific intention of causing injury, and if done correctly is easily capable of killing. (Ask McLook about what happens when nose bone fragments are driven upwards and into the brain!)

    We can discuss it ad nauseum, but a head butt is assault. Plain and simple thuggery, whether it’s Bakkies, Mealamu or Benjamin. End of the discussion.

  • 13

    12@ Scrumdown:
    This is no way condones or excuses it BUT (sorry for the unintended pun) did he not head butt after Mortlock punched him? Didn’t watch the game, why did Mortlock punch and has he had to face a disciplinary hearing or is a yellow card enouh punishment for punching someone?

  • 14

  • 15

    13@ Bullscot:
    I also have not seen the incident, but (some of) the rules foul play state:

    10.4 DANGEROUS PLAY AND MISCONDUCT

    (a) Punching or striking. A player must not strike an opponent with the fist or arm, including the elbow, shoulder, head or knee(s).

    Sanction: Penalty kick

    (b) Stamping or trampling. A player must not stamp or trample on an opponent.

    Sanction: Penalty kick

    (c) Kicking. A player must not kick an opponent.

    Sanction: Penalty kick

    (d) Tripping. A player must not trip an opponent with the leg or foot.

    Sanction: Penalty kick

    (l) Retaliation. A player must not retaliate. Even if an opponent is infringing the Laws, a player must not do anything that is dangerous to the opponent.

    Sanction: Penalty kick

    (m) Acts contrary to good sportsmanship. A player must not do anything that is against the
    spirit of good sportsmanship in the playing enclosure.

    Sanction: Penalty kick

    10.5 SANCTIONS

    (a) Any player who infringes any part of the Foul Play Law must be admonished, or cautioned and temporarily suspended for a period of ten minutes’ playing time, or sent-off.

    (b) A player who has been cautioned and temporarily suspended who then commits a second
    cautionable offence within the Foul Play Law must be sent-off.

    10.6 YELLOW AND RED CARDS

    (a) When a player has been cautioned and temporarily suspended in an International match the referee will show that player a yellow card.

    (b) When a player has been sent off in an International match, the referee will show that player a red card.

    (c) For other matches the Match Organiser or Union having jurisdiction over the match may
    decide upon the use of yellow and red cards.

    10.7 PLAYER SENT OFF

    A player who is sent-off takes no further part in the match.

    I think that when trying to read the rules, which are somewhat ambiguous in places it’s no wonder there are so many differing interpretations that cause irritation for players, coaches and spectators alike.

    However if 10.5 (a) is taken literally (as I read it) then a yellow card is the minimum sanction for contravening any of the foul play laws.

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