Springbok captain suspended for six weeks

Springbok captain John Smit has been suspended for six weeks for his elbow to the throat of French lock Jerome Thion in Saturday’s match against France. The incident happened in the first half of the match, and left Thion hospitalised for four days with a broken larynx. Smit was cited by Independent Citing Commissioner David Gray of New Zealand after the match. His suspension will commence on 14 January next year, the opening day of the new season in South Africa. The suspension, against which Smit has the right of appeal, was handed down by Denis Wheelahan of Australia at a disciplinary hearing in Paris on Tuesday afternoon.