Hurricanes captain Ardie Savea has been suspended for one match following his controversial throat-slitting gesture during their win over the Melbourne Rebels.
Savea was cited after making the gesture towards Rebels scrumhalf Ryan Louwrens after he was yellow carded towards the end of the first half.
Catch every game of Super Rugby Pacific LIVE on Stan Sport. Start your Free Sport Trial Now
The All Blacks star faced a SANZAAR hearing on Tuesday for allegedly contravening the law concerning "the spirit of good sportsmanship' and whilst the gesture did not warrant a red card, the warning coupled with his earlier yellow card saw him forced to reappear before the Review Committee.
"The Judicial Committee ruled that whilst it did not meet the red card threshold, it was worth a Warning from the Judicial Committee, forcing him to reappear before the SANZAAR Foul Play Review Committee as a result of his persistent offending," Judicial Committee Chairman Nigel Hampton KC ruled.
"Having conducted a detailed review of all the available evidence, including all camera angles and additional evidence, including from the player and submissions from his legal representative, Aaron Lloyd, the Judicial Committee found the foul play did not breach the Red Card threshold.
"With respect to sanction the Judicial Committee deemed the act of foul play merited a Warning as it was close to, but did not breach the Red Card threshold.
"Savea was issued with a Warning from the Judicial Committee with regard to this incident. As a result of this, that meant that he had received a Yellow Card and a Warning from the same match. SANZAAR Disciplinary Rule 6.1 states: "6.1: 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 had been sent off.
"Therefore, Ardie Savea was required to reappear before the SANZAAR Foul Play Review Committee as a result of his persistent offending."
As a result of the 'player’s persistent offending,' Savea will miss Saturday's clash with the Blues.
"The Foul Play Review Committee conducted a detailed review of all the available evidence, and oral submissions from his legal representative, Mr Aaron Lloyd," they added.
"With respect to sanction the Foul Play Review Committee ruled, after considering a number of factors, including the guidance of World Rugby Regulation 17 Appendix 4, and due to the nature of the Player’s persistent offending, with both the Yellow Card and the Warning being issued for unsportsmanlike play, that an appropriate sanction for the Player would be a suspension of 1 week.
"That was accepted by the player, and the player is therefore suspended for 1 week, up to and including Saturday 11 March 2023.”
