SANZAR appeals Steyn rugby hearing outcome

Mar 25, 2015 - 11:15 AM Super Rugby's governing body SANZAR has lodged an appeal against the outcome of its own judicial hearing of a dangerous tackle charge against Sharks centre Francois Steyn.

At Monday's original judicial hearing, Steyn was found not guilty of lifting and dropping or driving Chiefs five-eighth Aaron Cruden into the ground.

The Sharks' player was one of three sent off during the first half of the bruising weekend clash in which the South African outfit edged the Waikato team 12-11 in Durban.

Sharks hooker and skipper Bismarck du Plessis, Steyn and Chiefs hooker Hikawera Elliot were all red-carded by Australian referee Angus Gardner in less than half-an-hour of kick-off at at Kings Park Stadium.

Steyn was dismissed at the 28-minute mark, with the referee overruling the television match official (TMO), who believed the dangerous tackle on Cruden was only a yellow-card offence.

On Wednesday night, SANZAR announced it would appeal against the outcome of Steyn's initial judicial hearing.

The Appeals Committee will convene on Friday (1700 AEDT) via videoconference to consider SANZAR's challenge.

Source: AAP