EDINBURGH, Scotland – Springbok captain Siya Kolisi received a Citing Commissioner Warning from Citing Commissioner David Pelton from the United States following an incident against Scotland at Murrayfield on Saturday.
In a match won 26-20 by the Boks, skipper Kolisi was in a scuffle with Scotland centre Peter Horne, and was warned for striking with the head (Law 9.12) during the 31st minute.
Having reviewed the video angles, the Citing Commissioner determined that there were mitigating factors which meant that the action did not meet the red card threshold, including the player being illegally prevented from rejoining the play by Scotland’s Horne, and the moderate force of the strike to the side of the head.
The match officials did not see the incident at the time on the field of play.
Disciplinary update: November tests (Siya Kolisi, South Africa) https://t.co/WgHtEiC8Gx #rugby via @worldrugby
— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) November 19, 2018
Under World Rugby Regulation 17, a Citing Commissioner Warning is issued for offences falling just short of a red card and, or similarly to cards, will form part of the player’s disciplinary record.
So how does #SiyaKolisi get away with this blatant headbutt?? @IRB @Springboks @Scotlandteam pic.twitter.com/rxtkAsbs5A
— witogie (@witogie1) November 17, 2018