URC statement: Coetzee, Protheroe banned after their red cards

Bulls’ Marcell Coetzee and Ospreys’ Mathew Protheroe have received the same length of suspension following their URC red cards last weekend. Former Springboks back-rower Coetzee was sent off in Edinburgh for a dangerous tackle and his three-game suspension will be cut to two if he successfully completes World Rugby tackle school.

The outcome was likewise for ex-England U-20s player Protheroe, who saw red at Dragons. His red card similarly resulted in a three-game ban that can be reduced to two via the coaching intervention programme.

A statement read: “After an act of foul play by Vodacom Bulls’ No6 (Marcell Coetzee), referee Chris Busby showed a red card in the 42nd minute of the game. In the player’s response to the independent disciplinary committee (Ben Rutherford, chair, IRFU, Donal Courtney, IRFU, Jan Gedrych, WRU), he accepted that he had committed an act of foul play but contested that it warranted a red card.

“The committee considered all of the evidence against the high contact process and found that the incident did meet the red card threshold, with entry of mid-range warranting six weeks.

"The player received three weeks mitigation due, in particular, to his previously exemplary disciplinary record which resulted in a three-game suspension. Should the player complete the World Rugby coaching intervention programme then the sanction will be reduced by one game.

“After an act of foul play by Ospreys’ No11 (Mathew Protheroe), referee Ben Whitehouse showed a red card in the 27th minute of the game. In the player’s response to the judicial officer (Rose Alice Murphy), he accepted he had committed an act of foul play which warranted a red card.

“Murphy found that the incident met the red card threshold, with the entry of mid-range warranting six weeks. The player received three weeks mitigation due to his good record and apology which resulted in a three-game suspension. Should the player complete the World Rugby coaching intervention programme then the sanction will be reduced by one game.”

Fixtures Coetzee is unavailable for:

Bulls vs Connacht, November 25 – URC;

Bulls vs Sharks, December 2 – URC;

Bulls vs Saracens, December 9 – Champions Cup.

The ban for the last game will be lifted with the successful completion of the World Rugby coaching intervention programme

Fixtures Protheroe is unavailable for:

Ospreys vs Scarlets, November 26 – URC

Benetton vs Ospreys, December 2 – URC

Ospreys vs Benetton, December 9 – Challenge Cup

The ban for the last game will be lifted with the successful completion of the World Rugby coaching intervention programme