Lions back-rower Kwagga Smith has been suspended for four weeks following his red card in the Super Rugby final loss to the Crusaders.
Smith was sent off in the 38th minute of Saturday's 25-17 defeat after he collected the legs of David Havili while the Crusaders fullback was attempting to catch a kick. Havili landed on his shoulders, leaving referee Jaco Peyper with little option but to send Smith from the field.
And the SANZAAR judiciary committee agreed with Peyper, before handing down a four-week ban which will keep Smith out of the game until September 3.
"Having conducted a detailed review of all the available evidence, including all camera angles and additional evidence, including a statement from the player and submissions from his legal representative, Attie Heyns, the Foul Play Review Committee upheld the ordering off and amended the charge from Law 10.4(e) to Law 10.4(i)," a SANZAAR review committee chairman Nigel Hampton QC said.
"With respect to sanction the Foul Play Review Committee deemed the act of foul play merited a mid-range entry point of 8 weeks. However, taking into account mitigating factors including the player's good judicial record and the Player's admission of guilt at the first available opportunity the Foul Play Review Committee reduced the suspension to 4 weeks."
"The player is therefore suspended for 4 weeks, up to and including the 2 September 2017."
Smith was not named in Allister Coetzee's Springboks squad for the upcoming Rugby Championship.