Jaque Fourie suspended for dangerous tackle on Ma'a Nonu

Springbok centre Jaque Fourie has been handed a 4 week suspension following the 32-29 Tri Nations victory over the All Blacks in Hamilton on the weekend.

Fourie made a tackle on Ma’a Nonu in te 73rd minute of the match that was ignored by the referee and touchjudges, but picked out by citing commisioner Scott Nowland after the match.

Fourie, 26, appeared before a judicial hearing in Hamilton on Sunday. He argued that the tackle was reckless, but not intentional.

After reviewing video evidence and hearing player submissions, Judicial officer Paul Tulley said that the tackle had been “clearly dangerous and placed the player in a vulnerable position when he landed on his neck and shoulder.”

Fourie was not intending to play next week, so his suspension will begin on September 26th, and run until October 19th. If his team, the Lions, don’t make the Currie Cup final, he won’t be playing again any time soon.

Following the controversy with the Bakkies Botha ‘Justice 4’ incident, questions of consistency when it comes to ‘independent’ panels are sure to come up again.