Messam joins carded trio in dock; Rugby 365

Chiefs captain Liam Messam has joined three other players in the dock after the spiteful and brutal Super Rugby encounter with the Sharks in Durban at the weekend.

Three players - Chiefs hooker Hikawera Elliot, Sharks captain Bismarck du Plessis and Sharks midfield back Frans Steyn - were all red-cared in the first half of a match on Saturday, an encounter that was never far from spilling over.

The Sharks eventually won 12-11, courtesy of four Pat Lambie penalties - the last on the hour mark.

Elliot, Du Plessis and Steyn will all face automatic disciplinary hearings, following their red card performances.

Messam has joined them in the dock after he was cited for foul play.

Messam is charged with having contravened 10.4 (e): Dangerous Tackling.

The incident occurred in the 18th minute of the match between.

Upon review of the match footage, the citing commissioner deemed in his opinion the incident had met the red card threshold for foul play.

The citing is to be considered in the first instance by SANZAR duty judicial officer Adam Casselden.

All SANZAR disciplinary matters are in the first instance referred to a duty judicial officer hearing to provide the option of expediting the judicial process.

For a matter to be dispensed with at this hearing, the person appearing must plead guilty and accept the penalty offered by the DJO.

* Elliot is charged with having contravened Law 10.4 (h): Dangerous Charging - a player must not charge into a ruck or maul. Charging includes any contact made without use of arms, or without grasping a player.

The incident occurred in the 16th minute of the match.

The case is to be considered in the first instance by SANZAR duty judicial officer Adam Casselden.

* Steyn is charged with having contravened Law 10.4 (j) Lifting a player from the ground - lifting a player from the ground and dropping or driving that player into the ground whilst that player's feet are still off the ground such that the player's head and/or upper body come into contact with the ground is dangerous play.

The incident occurred in the 28th minute of the match.

* Du Plessis is charged with having contravened Law 10.4 (c) - a player must not kick an opponent.

The incident occurred in the 18th minute of the match.

All three cases are to be considered in the first instance by SANZAR duty judicial officer Adam Casselden.

All SANZAR disciplinary matters are in the first instance referred to a duty judicial officer hearing to provide the option of expediting the judicial process.

For a matter to be dispensed with at this hearing, the person appearing must plead guilty and accept the penalty offered by the DJO.

* Meanwhile Chiefs wing Tom Marshall has been issued with a citing commissioner warning - for contravening Law 10.4 (e), dangerous tackling.

The incident occurred in the 79th minute of the match, when Marshall made contact with Sharks' No.9 Cobus Reinach.

In this case the referee for the match, Angus Gardner, acted upon the incident by awarding a penalty - following consultation with the Television Match Official. Upon further review of the match footage, the citing commissioner deemed a warning (similar to an off-field yellow card) was appropriate.

A CCW may be issued by the SANZAR citing commissioner for foul play incidents that are very close to, but in his opinion do not meet the red card threshold for citings.

A player who has received three yellow cards or three citing commissioner warning (or any combination thereof) in the same Super Rugby competition shall be required to appear before the duty judicial officer appointed for the match during which he last offended.

Why is that relevant?

First... Point taken about the time of the incident.

What you have described is foul play. Whether a dangerous tackle  or not, it remains foul play.

10.4 Dangerous play and misconduct

m) Acts contrary to good sportsmanship. A player must not do anything that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship in the playing enclosure.

Sanction: Penalty kick12