Benneton’s SA lock banned for 2 weeks

Cape Town - Benneton lock Irne Herbst has been banned for two weeks after being found guilty of foul play.

According to the PRO14’s official website, a disciplinary panel convened in Dublin on Wednesday to consider the red-card decision against the player resulting from the Round 3 fixture against Scarlets last weekend.

Herbst was shown a red card by referee Lloyd Linton under Law 9.12 - Striking with hand or arm.

The disciplinary panel, comprising of David Martin (chair), George Spotswood and Kim Moloney (all Ireland), concluded that there was an act of foul play of striking with the forearm. As there was contact with the forearm to the head a mandatory mid-range entry point (four weeks) was required.

The ban was reduced after full mitigation of 50 percent was applied having taken into account the player’s conduct throughout the hearing, his previous clean disciplinary record and acceptance of the red-card decision.

As a result, Herbst has been banned for a period of two weeks. He is free to play from midnight Sunday, September 30.

The 25-year-old Herbst, who previously played for the Southern Kings and Blue Bulls, was reminded of his right to appeal.