Stormers wing Zas slips up but dodges a bullet

03 May 2016 - 10:44 By CRAIG RAY

Leolin Zas received a two-week ban after receiving a red card while playing for the Stormers against the Waratahs last weekend but will only miss one Super Rugby game.Zas collided clumsily with flyhalf Bernard Foley when contesting a high ball. Foley landed heavily on his neck, but was not injured.Referee Mike Fraser issued a red card and the Stormers lost the game 32-30 with the Tahs scoring two late tries while Zas was off the field.Sanzaar duty judicial officer Nigel Hampton has accepted a guilty plea from Zas and imposed a two-week ban, which is effectively a one match Super rugby suspension as the Stormers have a bye this weekend.Twenty-year-old Zas will only miss the game against the Sunwolves and will be eligible to play the Bulls on May 21."I found it was a lower-end offence on the basis that the video footage showed the player's right foot slipping as he was readying to compete for the ball in the air," Hampton said."This resulted in him moving on through and under the opposing player, causing that player to fall dangerously to the ground. Fortunately, the opposing player was uninjured. The low-end entry point for the sanction was a three-week suspension."There were no aggravating factors."As to mitigation, I took into account the player's youth and his early guilty plea, as well as his already expressed apology and his contrition. I allowed a reduction of one week, making a suspension from all rugby of two weeks, up to and including Saturday 14 May 2016."The Stormers have a bye next weekend. I was provided written evidence that the player would have been chosen to play for Western Province in a Currie Cup match against the Natal Sharks that forthcoming weekend. So that match should be, and is, taken into account as a match, which he will be unable to play in. In addition, he will be ineligible to play in the Super (rugby) match against the Sunwolves on the 14 May 2016."..

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