Stormers' Fouché loses appeal, will miss four games

Following an appeal, DHL Stormers Neethling Fouché will miss four games after an Appeal Panel upheld the original Disciplinary Panel decision.

In the Round 14 Vodacom URC Ulster v DHL Stormers game (Friday, 28 March) the referee Andrea Piardi showed the player (Neethling Fouché, No 3) a Red Card in the 45th minute of the game under Law 9.16 - A Player must not charge or knock down an opponent carrying the ball without attempting to grasp that player.

On Monday, 31 March, a Disciplinary Panel consisting of Declan Goodwin (Chair), Janet Gedrych and Chris Morgan (all Wales) found that the incident met the Red Card threshold, with entry of mid-range warranting a six-game suspension.

The Panel reduced the suspension (33 per cent mitigation) due to the player's good record, remorse and exemplary conduct before and during the hearing which resulted in a four-game suspension.

The player exercised his right to appeal. An Appeal Panel consisting of Sheriff Kathrine Mackie (Chair, Scotland), David Martin (Ireland) & Robert Milligan KC (Scotland) met on Thursday (10 April), to review. The appeal was not upheld and the original Disciplinary Panel sanction remains.

Fixtures Neethling Fouché is unavailable for:

DHL Stormers v Connacht, 19 April 2025, Vodacom URC

DHL Stormers v Benetton, 26 April 2025, Vodacom URC

DHL Stormers v Dragons RFC, 10 May 2025, Vodacom URC

**DHL Stormers v Cardiff Rugby, 16 May 2025, Vodacom URC