South Africa’s director of rugby, Rassie Erasmus, has been banned from all rugby activity for two months, and match day activity for 11, after six charges of misconduct against him were upheld.
South Africa rugby will appeal the decision.
The charges were brought by World Rugby in response to Erasmus’ behaviour towards match officials during the Springboks’ 2-1 series victory over the British and Irish Lions in the summer. The main issue was his 62-minute video outlining perceived errors by Australian referee Nic Berry.
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Erasmus is also suspended from all match-day activities, including coaching and media engagement, until 30 September 2022. It means the mastermind of South Africa’s 2019 World Cup triumph will play no part in Saturday’s clash with England at Twickenham.
Erasmus and SA Rugby, who also faced two charges, have confirmed in a statement that they will appeal against the decisions. Erasmus used social media to highlight refereeing inconsistencies, starting with the Lions’ defeat to South Africa A, and after the first Test released an hour-long video critiquing the performance of the officials.
The charges upheld by an independent misconduct committee included attacking, disparaging and/or denigrating the game and match officials and not accepting the authority of match officials.
The first charge said Erasmus threatened a match official that unless a requested meeting took place, he would publish footage containing clips criticising the match official’s performance and then made good on that threat. Erasmus has also been given warning as to his future conduct and must apologise to the relevant match officials.
SA Rugby was charged with allowing Erasmus to commit acts of misconduct and for permitting the captain, Siya Kolisi, and the assistant coach Mzwandile Stick to make comments at a press conference on 30 July that were not “disciplined or sporting and adversely affected the game of rugby”.
Both counts were upheld by the independent misconduct committee, which fined the union 20,000, issued a warning over future conduct and ordered an apology be made to the relevant match officials.
SA Rugby released a short statement in response to the decision.
“SA Rugby and Rassie Erasmus have noted the decision of World Rugby’s judicial committee,” it read.
“Both parties confirmed they will exercise their rights to appeal the verdicts.
“Neither party will make any further comment until the process is complete.”
WINSTON
Roar Rookie
Rassie's ban is fair game, BUT he must not apologize to Berry, who is a second rate impartial ref. In SA Berry would have been removed from our panel. Like we did to Egon Seconds after his shocking performance between the Reds & Lions
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
In response to a post that said Berry had a good game: Nicholas BishopAuthor Expert July 28th 2021 @ 6:10am So did I Fin – I’ve not been too impressed in the past but he was okay – though I’d still like to see him be stricter at the tackle…
PeterK
Roar Guru
No, out of the 36 clips the reffing team made 13 errors, some were by the AR's, and this includes things like calling advantage over early. Berry provided a point by point response on the clips which was reviewed by Jutge prior to being sent. So 13 errors out of 450 decisions in a game is an error rate of 3%. Besides none of that shows any bias since no examination was made of mistakes in the boks favour, RE's video was very one sided. Show me where in the report it concluded he made 23 errors in 35 minutes of play.
WINSTON
Roar Rookie
Agreed. And ban referees like Berry.
WINSTON
Roar Rookie
I did read the report, which in fact did not dispute the material facts of the video. Berry made 23 errors in 35 minutes of play
PeterK
Roar Guru
eff - you realise that Berry addressed every single item on the video point by point to RE so he did not avoid him at all. That every single issue was addressed still wasn't good enough for RE.
WINSTON
Roar Rookie
If you think Berry is an OK ref, you need an optometrist, fast.
PeterK
Roar Guru
Berry was quite good in that test, he certainly wasn't biased or partial. The only bias was by RE, he was totally unbalanced, didn't you read the report?
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
Winston, you need to grow up. Any unbiased viewing of the test would agree it was largely very good. If you wanted the game slowed to a crawl, not so much though
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
This is incredible. I’ve a bridge I can let you have cheap if you believe all this
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
Apparently he does. He’s been spouting this rubbish for months
Faith
Roar Rookie
Yup, ozinsa, that's new lol ...
Double Agent
Guest
Berry factually totally one eyed? Does Berry support the Lions? Or the Boks? Hard to believe. Why should he be one eyed? Maybe it's time someone did a video highlighting all the stuff that didn't go the way of the Lions? Or maybe we could behave like men and stop crying and bitching on social media?
WINSTON
Roar Rookie
Australians sound even more biased than Saffers here. (Except for Jones). Berry's defence should be "I couldn't help myself to be anti Saffer, after all, I'm Australian!" (Tongue in cheek, but seriously Australians, try be marginally objective). Rassie deserved to be punished, but Berry factually was totally one eyed. Remove Berry from your panel, Rugby & Australia can do better.
biltong
Guest
Well it is kind of logical that rabid SA fans are going to support Rassie, he is a hero to many and the saviour of SA rugby.
WINSTON
Roar Rookie
Ah, so it's about the 2023 RWC? :laughing:
WINSTON
Roar Rookie
If the appeal goes against SARFU & Rassie, expect a video the following Tuesday!
WINSTON
Roar Rookie
7 month break now for the players, but I assume remaining number 1 and retaining the RWC does not take a 7 month break
WINSTON
Roar Rookie
Rassie needs to take his punishment on the chin. He broke a rugby code. Berry on the other hand needs to find a job that doesn't require objectivity.
WINSTON
Roar Rookie
Not perfect, just impartial & unbiased. Berry failed, he needs to be removed, this is not Saturday afternoon tiddlywinks. Professional sport. Rassie broke the unspoken code of rugby, punish him, by all means, BUT, remove Berry and set up a proper review system. Refs cannot be biased