The Lions will be without Emmanuel Tshituka until at least 17 April after the loose forward was given a three-week suspension for his red card against Racing 92.
Tshituka was suspended for three weeks following an independent disciplinary hearing after he was sent off in the Challenge Cup last-16 match against Racing in Johannesburg.
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The 22-year-old was given his marching orders by the English referee, Karl Dickson, in the 18th minute of the match after colliding with Racing 92’s Louis Dupichot, and making contact with the fullback’s head using his forearm.
According to a press release issued on behalf of the independent disciplinary committee, Tshituka was red-carded for “striking the Racing 92 full back…with his forearm in a dangerous manner”.
Tshituka was cited under Law 9.11 Reckless or dangerous play – leading with the elbow or forearm, which carries a low-range sanction entry point of two weeks and mid-range of six weeks.
An independent disciplinary committee comprising Samantha Hillas KC (England), Chair, Mitchell Read (England) and Yannick Jauzion (France), heard submissions by video conference from Tshituka, from the player’s legal representative, Marius Botha, from the Lions Team Manager, Tracy van Ginkel, and from the EPCR Disciplinary Officer, Liam McTiernan.
The committee upheld the red card decision, finding that Tshituka had been guilty of a reckless act of foul play. It then determined that the offending was at the mid-range of World Rugby’s sanctions and six weeks was selected as the appropriate entry point. Due to the player’s clear disciplinary record and his timely apology to Dupichot, the committee reduced the sanction by three weeks before imposing a three-week suspension. Tshituka is free to play on Monday 24 April. However, if he applies for and successfully completes a World Rugby Coaching Intervention, he will be free to play on Monday 17 April.The suspension will rule him out of the Challenge Cup quarter-final against Glasgow Warriors and, if he completes the coaching programme, the home Vodacom United Rugby Championship match against Leinster.
He would then be available for the final game of the season against Zebre in Johannesburg.
Tshituka was not included in the squad that will travel to Glasgow for the quarter-finals and it appears likely that his place will be taken by fit-again veteran Jaco Kriel.
Photo: Christiaan Kotze/Gallo Images