South Africa director of rugby Rassie Erasmus set to be free to be involved in crunch series decider against the Lions after World Rugby delayed disciplinary action… allowing him to continue controversial waterboy role
- Rassie Erasmus is set to be free to feature in the series decider against the Lions
- World Rugby delayed disciplinary action against Springboks director of rugby
- Erasmus is under scrutiny for questioning the integrity of referee Nic Berry
- However, he will be able to continue his contentious waterboy role in third Test
South Africa director of rugby Rassie Erasmus is likely to be free to feature in Saturday’s series decider against the Lions after World Rugby delayed disciplinary action against him.
The governing body announced on Monday night that Erasmus would be hauled before a disciplinary panel over questioning the integrity of Australian referee Nic Berry during a rogue 63-minute video.
However, the World Rugby hearing is unlikely to happen this week, meaning Erasmus will be able to continue his contentious waterboy role for the Springboks in the third Test in Cape Town.
Spingboks director of rugby Rassie Erasmus is likely to be free to feature against the Lions
Erasmus’s video, which focused on Berry’s decisions in the Lions’ first-Test victory, was released just 48 hours before the second Test, which the Springboks won 27-9 with New Zealander Ben O’Keeffe in charge.
One claim from Erasmus, 48, was that Berry had addressed South Africa captain Siya Kolisi and Lions counterpart Alun Wyn Jones differently during the first Test.
In total, his video contained 26 clips highlighting a range of decisions from Berry.
Erasmus is under scrutiny for questioning referee Nic Berry’s integrity in a 63-minute video
World Rugby also criticised the Lions for comments regarding the appointment of a South African television match official in the build-up to the first Test, but it is Erasmus who is set to receive a serious sanction in the coming weeks.
A World Rugby statement on Monday read: ‘South Africa director of rugby Rassie Erasmus and SA Rugby will face an independent misconduct hearing for comments regarding match official performance.
‘Match officials are the backbone of the sport, and without them there is no game. World Rugby condemns any public criticism of their selection, performance or integrity which undermines their role, and more importantly, the values that are at the heart of the sport.
World Rugby announced that it is unlikely that Erasmus’s hearing will take place this week
‘World Rugby is concerned that individuals from both teams have commented on the selection and/or performance of match officials.
‘However, the extensive and direct nature of the comments made by Rassie Erasmus within a video address, in particular, meets the threshold to be considered a breach of World Rugby Regulation 18 (misconduct and code of conduct).’
World Rugby also announced that it has committed to a review of its disciplinary process on criticism of match officials, ‘with a view to strengthening scope, rules and sanctions’.
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