PARIS – Former Sharks scrumhalf Rory Kockott on Wednesday escaped a lengthy and potentially career-ending four-year ban.
Instead, Kockott will soon be back in action for his French club after being cited in a Champions Cup clash against Munster last weekend.
The East London-born Kockott, who is 32, was cited for an eye gouge on fellow South African Chris Cloete while playing for Castres in their Champions Cup clash against Munster.
At the citing commission hearing in Paris, Kockott, who has won 11 French caps since leaving South Africa, received a suspension of three weeks and will be available to play again on January 7.
It was feared that Kockott's career could be over following the incident and subsequent citing which could have resulted in a four-year ban.
But the 32-year-old East London-born player was breathing a sigh of relief as the commission gave him a virtual slap on the wrist.