Ntlabakanye suspended for three weeks

Emirates Lions prop Asenathi Ntlabakanye has been banned for three weeks following his red card in last Saturday’s Vodacom United Rugby Championship match against Connacht in Galway.

Ntlabakanye’s suspension was announced on Friday and warranted a reduction from the entry-level six weeks to three because of an apology and good disciplinary record.

The URC released a statement on the disciplinary process that confirmed the three-week suspension.

“After an act of foul play by Emirates Lions player No 3 (Asenathi Nltabakanye), referee Craig Evans showed the player a red card in the 15th minute of the game under Law 9.13 – A player must not tackle an opponent early, late or dangerously. Dangerous tackling includes, but is not limited to, tackling or attempting to tackle an opponent above the line of the shoulders even if the tackle starts below the line of the shoulders,” the statement read.

“In the player's responses to the panel overseeing the disciplinary process (Simon Thomas, Chair (WRU), Nigel Williams (WRU), Beth Dickens (SRU)), he accepted that he had committed an act of foul play but that it had not warranted a red card. The panel found that the incident met the Red Card threshold, with entry of mid-range warranting six weeks. The player received three weeks (50 per cent) mitigation due to his good record, apology to the player and his full engaged participation in the disciplinary process which results in a three-game suspension.

“Should the player complete the World Rugby Coaching Intervention Programme, then the sanction will be reduced by one week.”

Fixtures Asenathi Nltabakanye is unavailable for:

Ospreys v Emirates Lions 30 March 2024, Vodacom URC

Benetton v Emirates Lions 6 April 2024, EPCR Challenge Cup

**EPCR Challenge Cup Quarter Final, 12/13/14 April

**Emirates Lions v Leinster 20 April 2024, Vodacom URC

**Should Emirates Lions not qualify for the EPCR Challenge Cup quarterfinal, the fixture against Leinster will stand as the third game suspension.