Prop Sazi Sandi is free to play immediately for the DHL Stormers after an appeal to overturn his three-week ban was successful.

The 24-year-old missed the first two matches of the Stormers’ tour to Italy and Wales in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship, but is available to face Cardiff on Saturday.

Sandi was cited for his head-on-head collision with Edinburgh flank Jamie Ritchie, which resulted in a red card during a clash between the teams in round three.

His good disciplinary record, early guilty plea, remorse and good conduct earned him a 50% mitigation to avoid a possible six-week suspension.

“On October 6, a disciplinary panel consisting of David Martin (Chair) and Kim Moloney (both Ireland), Chris Watts (Wales) found that the incident met the Red Card threshold, with entry of mid-range warranting six weeks. The Player received 50 per cent mitigation and reduced the ban to three weeks,” read a URC statement.

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“Having already served one week of his ban, the Player exercised his right to appeal on Tuesday, October 11. Once the appeal was allowed to go forward, it was agreed that it was not possible to convene a panel ahead of the DHL Stormers game with Ospreys on Friday, October 14.

“An Appeal Panel consisting of Roddy Dunlop KC (Scotland), Jennifer Donovan (Ireland) and Nigel Williams (Wales) met today, October 18, to review the appeal.

“The panel found that there was mitigating evidence to reduce the red card to a yellow card in the above game, and therefore overturn the original sanction and expunging the red card from the Player’s record.

“As a result, the Player is now free to play and is available for the DHL Stormers Vodacom United Rugby Championship game with Cardiff Rugby this weekend.”

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