Sharks scrum-half Jaden Hendrikse suspended for three weeks

Sharks scrum-half Jaden Hendrikse has been handed a three-week ban following his red-card incident during the recently concluded game against the British and Irish Lions at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria.

The 21-year-old was sent-off in the 46th minute during the game last weekend for a elbow hit on Liam Williams and his absence proved decisive as Sharks slipped to a 31-71 defeat from 26-26 scoreline at half-time.

Hendrikse appeared before an independent Disciplinary Committee chaired by Stephen Hardy (Australia), joined by former internationals John Langford (Australia) and David Croft (Australia) via a video link and accepted guilty of breaching Law 9.12.

The panel deemed his act warranted a red card and was initially handed a six-week ban that was reduced by half taking into account his conduct hearing, guilty plea and other mitigating factors.

"The player admitted that he had committed an act of foul play worthy of a red card. Having reviewed and considered all of the available evidence before the Committee, the Committee deemed that the player had breached Law 9.12 in that he had physically struck British and Irish Lions No.15 Liam Williams with his elbow / forearm, connecting with Mr Williams’s head / neck area.

"As there had been contact with Mr Williams’s head / neck area, the Committee applied World Rugby’s mandatory minimum mid-range entry point for foul play.

"This resulted in a starting point of a six-match suspension.

"Having acknowledged various mitigating factors including the player’s clear and genuine remorse, early acknowledgment of culpability, apology given directly to both Mr Williams and the referee and exemplary disciplinary record to date, the Committee reduced the six-match entry point by three weeks, resulting in a sanction of three weeks being imposed".

Hendrikse will now miss the Currie Cup games against New Nation PumasPumas, Vodacom Bulls and Toyota Cheetas on 16th, 21st and 24th July respectively.