Brits ban ‘a bitter pill to swallow’ - Bulls

The Vodacom Bulls have called the banning of hooker Schalk Brits for four weeks “a bitter pill to swallow” but a sentence they reluctantly accept under the Sanzaar rules.

Brits was banned for four weeks and Akker van der Merwe three following their fight during the Vodacom Super Rugby match against the Cell C Sharks in Durban last weekend.

While Van der Merwe was the aggressor and planted more blows, he came away with a week less suspension, mainly because of Brits’ previous disciplinary record.

“Even though the four weeks ban to hooker Schalk Brits is a bitter pill to swallow, the Blue Bulls Company fully respects and abides by the rules and governing of our beautiful game. The rules are in place to make the game safer, not only for the players on the field, but also for the younger generations watching and learning,” a spokesperson for the Blue Bulls Company told SuperSport.

“Given the nature of the offense the minimum sentence could have been six weeks (up to eight), but due to the mitigating circumstances it was reduced to four. The appeal to further reduce it was denied due to two previous incidences that the player was involved in over his 17-year career (Barbarians v British and Irish Lions 2013; Saracens v Gloucester 2016).”

Brits has been suspended for 4 weeks, up to an including 4 May 2019. This suspension covers the period of the Player's next 4 Super Rugby matches.