Andre Esterhuizen handed four-match suspension following red card

World Rugby released a statement on Wednesday confirming the ban, which could be reduced to three matches. Unfortunately for the explosive centre, he misses the Boks' trip to Australia for the Rugby Championship and several Currie Cup matches for the Sharks.

"Andre Esterhuizen has been suspended for three matches (subject to completing the World Rugby Coaching Intervention Programme) for a red card offence contrary to Law 9.13 (dangerous tackle) in South Africa's international match against Portugal in Bloemfontein on 20 July 2024," read the statement.

"The hearing was undertaken by an Independent Disciplinary Committee chaired by Matthew Weaver KC (England) and joined by former player Jamie Corsi (Wales) and former international referee Valeriu Toma (Romania). The player accepted that foul play had occurred and that the offence warranted a red card.

"The Committee considered the appropriate entry point for the offending and decided that the offence warranted the mandatory mid-end entry point for offending involving contact with the head of six matches.

"Having considered the mitigating factors, the Committee decided not to award full 50 per cent mitigation to the sanction resulting in a sanction of four matches. An additional match may be removed from the sanction should the player complete the World Rugby Coaching Intervention for Sanction Mitigation (CISM) which applies to foul play involving Head Contact."

The player is therefore suspended for the following matches:

• Sharks v Lions - 27 July 2024
• Pumas v Sharks - 3 August 2024
• Sharks v Griquas - 11 August 2024
• Cheetahs v Sharks - 17 August 2024*

  *Subject to the successful completion of the CISM.

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