World rugby's governing body yesterday found the South African Rugby Union (Saru), the Springboks and team officials guilty of bringing the game into disrepute with their "armband" protest against a two-week ban given to Bakkies Botha.
The charges upheld by the International Rugby Board's independent disciplinary committee were laid after the Springboks wore white armbands bearing the word "justice" during their third Test defeat by the British and Irish Lions last month.
The armbands were worn as a symbol of solidarity with lock Botha, who the South Africans felt had been unfairly banned for dangerously charging into a ruck during the second Test of the series.
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The independent committee imposed fines of £10 000 (R128 000) on Saru, £1 000 on skipper John Smit and £200 on each of the other players.
The committee said the sanctions would have been much more severe but for legal technicalities and the IRB could yet seek tougher measures by appealing against the ruling of its disciplinary committee. The committee was made up of two judges, Sir John Hansen, of New Zealand, and Guillermo Tragant, of Argentina, and former Australian captain John Eales.
In its ruling, the committee said the action of the Springboks "brought the game into disrepute, criticised the judicial process and was misconduct".
The committee also noted the absence of an apology from Saru, the team's management or the players and emphasised "the playing arena is no place for protest" and the wearing of the armbands "showed a serious lack of respect and consideration for their opponents".
Saru was found to have failed to make any attempt to prevent the protest, approved of it and effectively consented to conduct which was prejudicial to the best interests of the IRB and the game.
The IRB added: "The Independent Committee was unanimous in its view that, had it not been for the legal technicalities… both Saru and the Springbok players and management would have faced much more serious sanctions, including a more severe fine in the case of Saru and the suspension of the Springbok players and management from the Rugby World Cup 2011.
- This article was originally published on page 1 of Pretoria News on August 25, 2009
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