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From correspondents in Hamilton, New Zealand
September 13, 2009
South Africa centre Jaque Fourie has been suspended for four weeks for a dangerous tackle in the closing stages of Saturday's Tri-Nations Test against New Zealand.
Fourie was cited for a dangerous tackle on his All Blacks opposite Ma'a Nonu with 10 minutes remaining in the Test won by South Africa 32-29 to claim southern hemisphere rugby supremacy for the first time in five years.
At a judicial hearing here on Sunday, SANZAR judicial officer Paul Tully rejected Fourie's plea that the lifting tackle was reckless rather than intentional and should be viewed at the lower end of the penalty scale.
“There was a reckless lifting tackle which was clearly dangerous and placed the player in a vulnerable position when he landed on his neck and shoulder,” Tully said in his judgement after viewing video evidence.
Fourie indicated that for recovery reasons he would not be available for South Africa's domestic Currie Cup competition next week and the suspension would begin the following week.
http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,...-32464,00.html