Jaguares lock banned for Sharks clash

SANZAAR duty judicial officer Nigel Hampton has accepted a guilty plea from Lavanini for contravening Law 10.4 (g) - dangerous charging.

Lavanini has been suspended from all forms of the game for one week up to and including Saturday, March 5 - which rules him out of the Jaguares’ match against the Sharks in Durban.

The incident occurred in the 25th minute of the match at Toyota Stadium last Friday. The Jaguares emerged 34-33 victors.

In his finding, Hampton ruled the following:

"After initially reviewing the video footage, citing commissioner's report and other relevant materials, I heard from the player and his representatives, including his counsel Stephan Weyers. The player accepted a breach of the dangerous charging law and identified the various factors involved in the incident.

"I considered the incident and the submissions made by counsel and formed the view that the charge, appropriately, should be amended to 10.4 (g) dangerous charging. I found the offence to have an entry point in the low end range which starts at a two-week suspension.

"I did not consider there to be any aggravating factors to take into account. I did take the player admitting guilt for the offence into account as a mitigating factor. This entitles the player up to a 50 percent reduction in sanction which I applied. This results in a one week suspension being imposed on the player.

"The player is accordingly found to have contravened Law 10.4 (g) and is suspended for one week up to and including Saturday March 5, 2016."

Sport24