Stormers coach John Dobson says tighthead prop Neethling Fouche was treated unfairly by Vodacom URC disciplinary panels.
Fouche was red-carded for what was deemed a dangerous tackle on Ulster centre Ben Carson at Kingspan Stadium in round 14 of the competition, and given a four-match ban.
On Thursday, a new disciplinary panel dismissed an appeal by the Stormers, ruling the 32-year-old out of his team’s crucial home run to end the league stage of the competition.
MORE: No justice for Fouche, Stormers
“We are extremely disappointed with the outcome of Neethling’s appeal,” Dobson told Netwerk24. “While we respect the disciplinary process, we find it deeply disheartening that a player of Neethling’s calibre – someone who has a spotless disciplinary record in 14 years of professional rugby – could be treated in this way.
“The charge was based on rule 9.16, which requires a player to attempt to grab or wrap his arms around an opponent when making a tackle. In this case, Neethling clearly used both arms. To come to a different conclusion when the footage clearly shows this is simply astonishing.
“Neethling’s body was in a low position in response to a ball-carrier who was dramatically bending over and another player who had already brought the ball-carrier to the ground. If there was any issue, it was one of timing in a split second – caused by the actions of others, not poor technique or deliberate.”
Here’s why Neethling Fouché received his red card in Belfast last night 🎥🔴#VURC pic.twitter.com/8bzJyJOQtX
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) March 29, 2025
Dobson said that “fairness” – a key principle of the game in terms of how it is played and governed – was not applied in this case.
“When a player who consistently lives up to that principle is subjected to a process that results in an outcome that is clearly out of step with what can be clearly seen on the footage, it raises serious questions,” he said. “It becomes difficult to reconcile what we are told with what we can all see.”
FULL STORY
Photo: Ben McShane/Gallo Images
