ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Jannie Du Plessis slapped with off-field yellow card after starting dust-up

BY Grant Constable  ·  Sunday Apr 8, 2012

Sharks prop Jannie Du Plessis has been issued an off-field yellow card following a slap that sparked an all-in brawl between the Hurricanes and Sharks in New Plymouth on Saturday. The hosts played some great rugby and won the game 42-18.

Fiery flanker Karl Lowe and Du Plessis, brother of hooker Bismarck, had exchanged words at the ruck before a shove to the chest/face prompted a return slap from the Springbok front rower. This sparked a brawl the likes of which we haven’t seen for a long time in Super Rugby.

“It was a pretty hard slap and he’s a big boy. I wouldn’t like to meet him down a dark alley,” Lowe said after the game. Hooker Dane Coles said he emerged from a ruck to see mass chaos.

“I looked up and saw three different scraps going on. I tried to break it up but it was a decent bust-up. I’ll have to watch the replay and see how it went. It was like a State of Origin fight. But once it was over the boys got on with the job,” said the Hurricanes’ Coles.

“Hopefully nothing comes out of it. What happens on the field should stay on the field,” he added.

Despite the majority of players getting involved at some point, most of which wasn’t caught on camera, Du Plessis was the only player to be issued an off-field card, as he instigated the ruckus. 

Referee Glen Jackson issued a white card to both sides and penalised the Sharks upon recommendation of his touchjudge. The Springbok front rower was later charged with ‘Punching or striking an opponent’. He has not been suspended, but the yellow card will go on his record.

“The citing commissioners, after they looked at the full footage, saw Jannie du Plessis struck Karl Lowe with an open hand,” said SANZAR CEO Greg Peters told the Sunday Star-Times.

“It didn’t, in their minds, reach the threshold for a citing, even though it did spark the incident, which wasn’t a good look. They’ve looked at the initial strike from Jannie and Karl Lowe’s response, plus other players who were involved.

“I haven’t counted up the number of players who ran in but they’ve considered the full incident,” he added, saying that Du Plessis was very close to a meeting with the judiciary.

View a quick highlights summary of the match

What’s your thoughts on what took place, and and the handling of it? If you’re not registered to comment yet (without needing to verify each time), you can do so quickly here. 

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Articles

  • 30 WEEKS AGO

    Fiji Drua player Lomani slapped with ban...

  • 39 WEEKS AGO

    The sending off that rocked the Six Nations...

  • 40 WEEKS AGO

    Wrecking ball beats 10 players to score full...



ADVERTISEMENT

Great Tries

  • 2 WEEKS AGO

    WATCH: Outlandish Jacob Stockdale finish is truly world class

  • 2 WEEKS AGO

    Ulster denied THE GREATEST URC try you will ever see!

  • 3 WEEKS AGO

    Incredible Capuozzo break sets Dupont up for hatrick on return

  • 4 WEEKS AGO

    Fans praise 'Dom Perignon Rugby' as Irish players prepare for final match of South African tour

  • 5 WEEKS AGO

    Harlequins winger heralded as the next big England breakthrough after weekend's performance

View All

Big Hits & Dirty Play

  • 3 WEEKS AGO

    'Cheap shot' from Leicester Tigers vs Northampton Saints causing a stir online

  • 3 WEEKS AGO

    Wild moment leads to all in brawl during Welsh derby between Cardiff and Scarlets

  • 5 WEEKS AGO

    South African school boy makes the greatest tackle ever

  • 6 WEEKS AGO

    Huge guillotine tackle divides fans in viral footage

  • 6 WEEKS AGO

    Fans call for Stuart Hogg to face punishment after altercation involving ball boy

View All

See It To Believe It

  • 2 WEEKS AGO

    Insane moment as french backrow waves off medic and smokes Ange Capuozzo

  • 2 WEEKS AGO

    Incredible drop goal helps break 25-match losing streak

  • 4 WEEKS AGO

    Leinster fly half delivers insane 50:22 after being given start for Emerging Ireland

  • 4 WEEKS AGO

    French scrumhalf drills perfect shot at goal under outrageous circumstances

  • 4 WEEKS AGO

    Siya Kolisi makes young fans' day as he arrives at Cape Town school

View All

Funnies

  • 13 HOURS AGO

    Mischievous Marcus Smith spotted engaging in the dark arts during All Blacks match

  • 3 WEEKS AGO

    Jonny Sexton: 'Fondest memory of the Heineken Cup in 2011?' - 'Gordon D'Arcy's bar' and 'Coppers'

  • 3 WEEKS AGO

    Watch: Mike Haley's post match interaction with RG Snyman leaves no doubt about where Munster players stand

  • 3 WEEKS AGO

    The rugby guy and Mack Hansen drop an all time BANGER with latest video

  • 4 WEEKS AGO

    ‘Pitch is made of concrete’ - Fan provides much needed update following half time incident

View All

Amateur

  • 95 WEEKS AGO

    You Won’t See Many Better Than This Silky-Smooth Try From Llandovery RFC

  • 95 WEEKS AGO

    Incredible Scenes As Caldy RFC Hand Ealing First Championship Defeat Of The Season

  • 118 WEEKS AGO

    Dubious Score Decides Result Of Rugby's Biggest Schools Fixture

  • 118 WEEKS AGO

    Incredible Scenes At School Boys Rugby Match

  • 118 WEEKS AGO

    The Next Dominant Backrow?

View All

Player Features

  • 2 WEEKS AGO

    Louis Rees-Zammit opens up about his biggest shock in chasing NFL dream

  • 3 WEEKS AGO

    'It's been an honour' - Wales legend retires from international rugby

  • 3 WEEKS AGO

    Jonny Sexton: 'Fondest memory of the Heineken Cup in 2011?' - 'Gordon D'Arcy's bar' and 'Coppers'

  • 3 WEEKS AGO

    'It's been horrible' - Wales captain to miss Autumn Nations

  • 4 WEEKS AGO

    'It was an easy decision for me' - Saints star commits to future

View All