Loots: Player banned for life

2006-12-20 15:42

Johannesburg - The Boland Rugby Union (BRU) on Wednesday announced sanctions on two clubs and several players following the death of Riaan Loots in a rugby match in June.

Delicious Rugby Club player Ben Zimri, who was arrested in connection with the player's death, was banned from rugby for life said BRU lawyer Chris Faure.

The ban applies to rugby under the jurisdiction of the International Rugby Board (IRB), the South African Rugby Union (Saru) and the BRU.

His team-mate and fellow murder charged, Wayne Matthee, was suspended from playing rugby in the Boland for the 2006 season.

Zimri, of Ceres and Wayne Matthee, of Paarl, were charged with Rawsonville Club player Riaan Loots' murder in a separate criminal case.

The union's disciplinary committee also suspended Delicious players Anthony Matthee and Gavin Van Rooyen for the 2006 season.

The players involved in the incident were banned from playing after the incident and missed the rest of the 2006 season.

Delicious Rugby Club was suspended for three months from all IRB, Saru and BRU competitions - but the sanction was suspended for 24 months from January.

This was on condition that the club management reported within 72 hours to the BRU after each match in the 2007 and 2008 seasons on its adherence to the union's code of conduct.

Union funds permitting, the club management should complete a race relations course in 2007.

Race relations programme

Rawsonville Rugby Club was fined R5 000 which was suspended for 12 months. This was on condition that the club reported its adherence to the code of conduct within 72 hours of every match in the 2007 season.

Jean Du Preez, who did not participate in the inquiry formalities, cannot take part in IRB, Saru or BRU rugby activities for three years from January.

Eighteen months of this would be suspended on condition that, at his own costs, Du Preez takes part in a race relations programme.

The sanctions were the result of an internal inquiry into the death of Loots.

Loots died after being declared brain dead following a match between his team and Delicious in Ceres on June 23 this year. It is alleged that he was felled with a stiff-arm tackle to the throat, then kicked in the head as he lay on the ground.

Zimri and Matthee are due to appear again in the Worcester Regional Court in connection with Loots' death on January 16.

- SAPA