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Uruguayan second-rower Ignacio Dotti was cited for foul play by World Rugby on Saturday. He was yellow carded in the first half against Namibia in game two of the two-match series.
The citing commissioner required that Dotti appear at a hearing before the independent Judicial Officer Robert Stelzner SC (South Africa) earlier today in Windhoek. The offense was for striking Namibian second-rower Ruan Ludick in the head with his elbow.
Dotti admitted that he had struck Ludick as alleged in attempting to free himself from his grasp. The incident occurred following a maul in which the players were on the ground.
Mr Stelzner received evidence from Dotti, the Namibian player and doctor and the match officials and submissions from Dotti’s team manager.
He determined that in keeping with the World Rugby Council direction in the sanctions table to protect players’ heads this was mid-range offending, which carries a six-week entry point.
Mr Stelzner did not consider there were any aggravating factors but found there were various mitigating factors, including Dotti’s early acceptance of his conduct and good record.
Mr Stelzner reduced the sanction by the maximum 50 per cent permitted under the regulations. He suspended Dotti for his next three scheduled weeks of rugby which, due to the impending off-season, means Dotti is suspended until 6 January, 2018.
With Uruguay facing Canada on January 2018 in Vancouver the suspension will not prevent Dotti from playing. Canada host Uruguay at BC in the first of two Rugby World Cup qualifiers. The return match is to be in Montevideo on February 02.
