Ruan Botha, Raymond Rhule and JJ Engelbrecht have been cited following their disciplinary transgressions this weekend and will appear before Sanzaar’s foul play review committee.Botha and Rhule, along with Brumbies hooker Folau Fainga’a, were red carded in round 15, while Engelbrecht was issued with a yellow card and an official warning. All four players will now face the review committee at designated times via video conference.

Botha is alleged to have contravened Law 9.12, which states ‘a player must not strike an opponent’. The incident in question happened during the match between the Sharks and the Jaguares in Buenos Aires, where Botha charged into a ruck and struck an opponent around the neck area.

Rhule is alleged to have contravened Law 9.25, which states ‘a player must not intentionally charge or obstruct an opponent who has just kicked the ball’. He is deemed to have charged into Ruan Combrinck during the match between the Stormers and the Lions at Newlands.

Engelbrecht’s case is a bit more complicated. The Stormers centre first received a yellow card for contravening Law 9.18, which states ‘a player must not lift an opponent off the ground and drop or drive that player so that their head and/or upper body make contact with the ground’. He was later issued with a warning by the citing commission for the same offence in accordance with Law 9.13, which states ‘a player must not tackle an opponent early, late or dangerously’.

As a result of being issued with the warning and a card, Englebrecht is in breach of Sanzaar’s disciplinary Rule 6.1, which states ‘if a player has received two warnings or a combination of a warning and a yellow card during a match, he shall be treated for disciplinary purposes as if he has been sent off.’

Meanwhile, Fainga’a will face the committee for headbutting an opponent during the game between the Bulls and Brumbies at Loftus. His act of foul play, as with Botha, is in contravention with Law 9.12.

Photo: Chris Ricco/BackpagePix