Sanctioned with a red card for having tipped the Springbok Cheslin Kolbe in the air, the captain of the Blues is suspended from all competitions until December 11. Pieter-Stephen du Toit, he gets three weeks for his dangerous clearing on Jonathan Danty.
The captain of the Blues, heard on Wednesday by videoconference by an independent committee of the Autumn Nations Series, was suspended for four weeks after receiving a red card for foul play on Saturday evening during the test between the XV of France and the South Africa. Antoine Dupont had tipped Cheslin Kolbe in the air upon receiving a high ball.
The Toulouse scrum-half acknowledged “having committed an unfair act worthy of a red card“, explains the press release. “After reviewing all available evidence and taking into account submissions made by the player and his representative, the Disciplinary Committee found the player’s act to be “reckless” (and not intentional or deliberate).»
The commission reduced the initial sanction by half
Kolbe having landed on his head, the minimum penalty was an eight-week suspension. “After acknowledging mitigating factors, including evidence of remorse, contrition, exemplary disciplinary history and player behavior at the hearing“, the Disciplinary Committee reduced the sanction by half. That is four weeks (four matches).
Antoine Dupont is therefore suspended for France-Japan, this Sunday, then for two Top 14 matches (Lyon-Toulouse on November 27, Toulouse-Perpignan on December 3) and, finally, for the clash at the opening of the Champions Cup against the Irish from Munster, December 11.
A big blow for the player and his club. Antoine Dupont has 48 hours to appeal, or not, this decision.
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In addition, the disciplinary committee imposed … three weeks of suspension on the South African Pieter-Stephen Du Toit for his dangerous clearing in the face of Jonathan Danty, which had also earned him a red card, Saturday evening at the Stade Vélodrome from Marseille. The third-line, however, refused to plead guilty, denying “having committed an act deserving of a red card»…
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