Sharks captain Ruan Botha has received a four-week suspension, but will still be available for his side’s next Super Rugby match.

The lock was red-carded in the 72nd minute of the Sharks’ game against the Jaguares in Buenos Aires last Saturday for a dangerous hit on a player at a ruck.

The Sanzaar foul play review committee accepted a guilty plea from him for contravening Law 9.12: striking with hand or arm.

Botha has been suspended from all forms of the game up to and including 23 June. However, the Sharks’ next Super Rugby match is only on 30 June, after the international break. Botha was not included in Rassie Erasmus’ 43-man Springbok squad for the Tests against Wales and England.

‘The foul play review committee deemed the act of foul play merited a mid-range entry point of four weeks due to the contact with the opposing player’s head,’ said committee chairman Nigel Hampton.

‘The foul play review committee added one week to the initial sanction as aggravation for the fact the player was suspended for a similar incident less than 12 months prior. However, taking into account the mitigating factor of the player’s guilty plea at the first available opportunity, the foul play review committee reduced the suspension to four weeks.’

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