DHL Stormers loosehead prop Steven Kitshoff has been suspended and will miss the Vodacom Super Rugby clash with the Crusaders at Newlands on Saturday.

SuperSport

Kitshoff was cited for a dangerous tackle in the 61st minute of the Stormers’ 35-22 win over the Brumbies at Newlands at the weekend. The disciplinary hearing was held by video conferencing at 9am South African time on Monday, and was chaired by Adam Casselden, who ruled that Kitshoff had grabbed Brumbies flyhalf Matt Toomua in a “headlock”, thus placing the opposing player in “a vulnerable position” and “the risk of serious injury was obvious”.

The Stormers prop has been suspended until 31 March, which means he will be available for the following Super Rugby match against the Toyota Cheetahs in Bloemfontein. It is not yet clear who will replace Kitshoff in the front-row. That and the status of Gio Aplon, who left the field with suspected concussion against the Brumbies, will be confirmed at Stormers practice on Monday afternoon.

The Crusaders will ride into Cape Town this week with a few problems. Flyhalf Dan Carter has stayed in New Zealand to be at the birth of his first child and skipper Kieran Read, backline star Israel Dagg and prop Owen Franks are all carrying injuries of a varying extent following their team’s 55-20 win over the Southern Kings.