Schalk out for 8 weeks

[Timbo]

Burger gets eight weeks for eye gouging
29th June 2009, 9:00 WST

Flanker Schalk Burger will miss South Africa's first four games of the Tri-Nations series after he was today suspended for eight weeks for eye gouging during the Springboks’ series-clinching 28-25 win over the British and Irish Lions on the weekend.

Burger was charged with eye gouging Lions winger Luke Fitzgerald only 32 seconds into his 50th appearance for the Springboks.

He won't be available for the Boks until the clash with the Wallabies in Brisbane on September 5.

Lock Bakkies Botha was suspended for two weeks for charging dangerously into Lions prop Adam Jones, who left the field early in the second half with a suspected dislocated shoulder.

He will miss next Saturday’s third Test against the Lions, now a dead rubber, but will be available when the Sprinkboks start their Tri-Nations campaign againt the All Blacks in Bloemfontein on July 25.

South Africa Rugby announced the bans on Monday after both players attended disciplinary hearings by judicial officer Alan Hudson of Canada.

JOHANNESBURG
AP

[Thequeerone]

good

[slomo]

is that all.......
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[jargan83]

He serves half his suspension in a dead rubber test that is meaningless and 3 club rugby games (Currie Cup)

I saw the incident this morning when I was watching the game. 1st minute of a Test, and his 50th no less

[zimeric]

not unexpected of Schalk though... certain lives up to his reputation at times a bit like Big bad Barry Hall.

[jargan83]

Burger is light years in front of Barry Hall in the thug stakes

Eye Gouging has to be the lowest form of foul play you do on a sporting field

[Burgs]

...a bit like Big bad Barry Hall.

Who?

Should be 8 Tests not weeks, he can think himself very fortunate for mine.

[Stone Cold]

8 weeks sends a good message...definitely a Barry Hallesque brain freeze...

[jono]

Agreed burgs. He should get at least 8 weeks. What a thug...
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[JediKnight]

Same punishment as the Italian cited for eye-gouging following the NZ test at the weekend. I guess that 8 weeks is now the standard for this offence.

[retiredrucker]

I think it is time Judicial hearings are headed by impartial IRB judiciary with a 3 panel board with no members from either country playing in the test. It has always struck me as inappropriate for a players own country to sanction for foul play.

I hate the concept of mandatory sentencing but for mine proven gouging is a 6 month ban minimum

[Burgs]

South Africa Rugby announced the bans on Monday after both players attended disciplinary hearings by judicial officer Alan Hudson of Canada.

Given the offence, the deliberate nature of how it occurred and his past record, I think he is very lucky not to have missed the rest of the season.
It isn't a high tackle or even grappling in a Maul or any other playing related incedent, it was a calculated, deliberate, willful act with him looking right at what his fingers were doing and removed from the play.
For the little it is worth, he has totally lost my respect for one, no better than Loe.

[prop53]

I agree Burgs with all you say yes Richard LOE was the a low life but with the intent Burger i beleive as taken that title. He should have bee rubbed out for the rest of the international season. Even S.A Rugby shoud have stepped in and handed out an additional penalty. Deff NO RESPECT

[James]

he has totally lost my respect for one, no better than Loe.

I'd completely agree with you Burgs but Burger would have to have my respect before he could lose it.

[Sheikh]

If 8 weeks is the 'standard' penalty and you gouge in the last match of the season, do you receive effectively no ban?

8 matches (or match-weeks, or however you want to phrase it) should be the penalty, but I'd prefer 6 months (match-months, or whatever) as it's a despicable act.

You can't have a game of rugby where you're wondering if the next time you're at the bottom of the ruck someone's going to try and blind you.