SA Rugby and director of rugby Rassie Erasmus have issued a joint statement confirming that they will appeal their respective verdicts from an independent hearing.
On Wednesday evening, a statement from World Rugby confirmed that an independent committee had found Erasmus guilty on all six charges brought by the game’s governing body for various breaches of World Rugby regulation 18 and World Rugby’s code of conduct.
Erasmus has been suspended with immediate effect from all rugby activities for two months and suspended from all match-day activities (including coaching, contact with match officials, and media engagement) with immediate effect until 30 September 2022. Erasmus has also been handed a warning as to his future conduct and must make an apology to the relevant match officials.
Two further charges were brought against SA Rugby, the first of which related to the Erasmus video and not issuing any correction and the second to comments made by Springbok captain Siya Kolisi and assistant coach Mzwandile Stick at a press conference on 30 July 2021 that “adversely affected the game of rugby”.
SA Rugby has been handed a fine of £20,000 and a warning over future conduct.
In a joint statement, both Erasmus and SA Rugby confirmed that they will be appealing the verdicts.
“SA Rugby and Rassie Erasmus have noted the decision of World Rugby’s judicial committee,” the statement read. “Both parties confirmed they will exercise their rights to appeal the verdicts. Neither party will make any further comment until the process is complete.”
