South African Rugby Union Faces Significant Setback as Springboks Powerhouse Jasper Wiese Receives Hefty Ban
The Springboks, South Africa’s national rugby union team, have suffered a major blow as their star number eight Jasper Wiese has been handed a six-match suspension following a red card incident in his final appearance for Leicester Tigers in the Premiership.
In the 67th minute of the clash against Exeter Chiefs, Wiese lifted Exeter forward Ross Vincent up at a breakdown and dropped the back-rower to the ground, leading to his dismissal by referee Karl Dickson. An independent disciplinary panel deemed Wiese’s actions to have met the red card threshold for lifting a player off the ground and causing head or upper body contact with the ground, in violation of World Rugby Law 9.18.
“The panel set the entry point for Wiese’s ban at the low-end of six weeks, acknowledging his remorse and good conduct during the hearing. However, due to his poor disciplinary record, which includes three previous red cards, he was granted no mitigation.”
As a result of the suspension, Wiese will miss the highly-anticipated July internationals against Wales, Ireland, and Portugal. He could also be ruled out of the Rugby Championship fixtures against the All Blacks, depending on World Rugby’s decision regarding his eligibility for the clash against Wales, which takes place outside the official international window.
The Springboks’ fans and coaching staff will be disappointed by this setback, as Wiese has proven to be a powerhouse for the national team and a crucial part of their forward pack. His absence will leave a significant void in the team’s lineup, and the coaching staff will need to carefully consider their options to fill the number eight position.
Springboks’ 2024 Fixtures
- 22 June: South Africa vs. Wales (Twickenham, London)
- 7 July: South Africa vs. Ireland (Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria)
- 13 July: South Africa vs. Ireland (Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban)
- 20 July: South Africa vs. Portugal (Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein)
- 10 August: Australia vs. South Africa (Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane)
- 17 August: Australia vs. South Africa (Optus Stadium, Perth)
- 31 August: South Africa vs. New Zealand (Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg)
- 7 September: South Africa vs. New Zealand (DHL Stadium, Cape Town)
The Springboks’ fans and coaching staff will be hoping that Jasper Wiese can return to the lineup as soon as possible to bolster their chances in the upcoming international fixtures. In the meantime, the team will need to find a suitable replacement to fill the void left by the powerful number eight.
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