(Update: See the Outcome of the Citing at the bottom of the page!)

When I first saw the headlines about this incident, I thought… “Hell, is’nt that what one is supposed to do, to hit the rucks hard and with the shoulders to get the driving force forward?” The next instinct was that Rugby is gradually going softer and softer and I suppose that would be the sentiment amongst most of us older folk who played the game when a few crucial punches in a match was not only needed, but required and when someone did not lie on the wrong side of a ruck, because he was certainly going to get some stud marks all over him.

Well, that aside, of course I am talking about the citing of Chiliboy Ralepelle after the match between the Vodacom Bulls and Western Force on Saturday – here’s the official announcement as reflected on the Bulls website:

Vodacom Bulls hooker Chiliboy Ralepelle will appear before a SANZAR judiciary on Monday after he was cited for allegedly contravening Law 10.4 (h) and 10. 4 (k) when he made contact with a Western Force player in a ruck .

The alleged incident happened in the 11th minute of the Vodacom Super Rugby match between the Bulls and Force played at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.

The citing officer deemed the incident, which was not picked up by the match officials, as meeting the red card threshold for foul play.

Ralepelle will be represented by legal representative Gerrie Swart at the full hearing that will take place at Montecasino, Fourways at 17h30.

Law 10. 4(h)

A player must not charge into a ruck or maul. Charging includes any contact made without use of the arms, or without grasping a player.

Law 10.4 (k) Players must not charge into a ruck or maul without binding onto a player in the ruck or maul.

OK, so the Laws have changed – to supposedly make the game of Rugby Union safer, but then gentlemen and ladies, what about some consistency regarding after match citings!

How in this world, in the same match, does the Force player who shouldered Flip van der Merwe (who was injured in the process) not get cited? That was not only blatent, it had an injuring effect as well as having been an offence in the “Red Zone” with the Bulls only 5m out from the Force line!

It had “Dangerous” and “Professional Foul” written all over it.

Come on officials – would have called you gentlemen, but erased that after I typed it – some evenhandedness please, whilst you destroy rugby and make it a powder-puff game for sissies, by making the game softer… and softer… and softer.

I must say, the referee (Mr Jason Jaftha) had very poor control over the game at times, and looked lost in Super Rugby as a referee.

Diciplinery Hearing Result:

Vodacom Bulls hooker Chiliboy Ralepelle was found not guilty by a SANZAR judiciary on Monday after he was cited for allegedly contravening Law 10.4 (h) and 10. 4 (k).

The citing followed an alleged incident in the 11th minute of the Vodacom Super Rugby match between the Bulls and Force played at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.
The citing officer deemed the incident, which was not picked up by the match officials, as meeting the red card threshold for foul play.

Judicial Officer Jannie Lubbe found Ralepelle not guilty after consulting with ex-professional player Shaun Payne, who acts in an advisory role in terms of Sanzar rules.
Ralepelle is free to play in the remainder of the competition.

He was represented by legal representative Gerrie Swart at the full hearing that took place at Montecasino, Fourways.

Law 10. 4(h): A player must not charge into a ruck or maul. Charging includes any contact made without use of the arms, or without grasping a player.
Law 10.4 (k): Players must not charge into a ruck or maul without binding onto a player in the ruck or maul.