Co-captain Gibbins cited over yellow card offence

Glasgow flanker and cocaptain Callum Gibbins has been cited by the match commissioneroveranincident which saw him yellow carded in Saturday’s 31-31 draw with Exeter Chiefs in the Heineken Champions Cup at Scotstoun.

The Kiwi was sent to the sin bin by French referee Romain Poite for a shoulder charge at a ruck during the first half of what turned out to be an epic draw which leaves the Warriors’ hopes of progressing in the competition looking unlikely.

His hearing will take place in London today.

A European Professional Club Rugby statement read: “EPCR has received a citing complaint against the Glasgow Warriors flanker, Callum Gibbins (No 7), arising from his club’s Heineken Champions Cup, Round 5 match against the Exeter Chiefs at Scotsoun on Saturday, 11 January 2020.

“Gibbins is alleged to have committed an act of foul play in that he struck the Exeter Chiefs flanker, Jacques Vermeulen (No 7), with his shoulder in a dangerous manner in the 25th minute of the match in contravention of Law 9.12.”

Striking with the shoulder comes under World Rugby’s Law 9.12., which carries the sanctions of low end: two weeks; midrange: six weeks; top end: ten to 52 weeks.

Meanwhile, Pieter Scholtz of Southern Kings faced a disciplinary hearing yesterday via video conference and has been banned for four weeks.

A disciplinary panel convened in Neath to consider the red-card decision against Scholtz resulting from the Guinness Pro14 fixture against Edinburgh on 4 January.

The prop was shown a red card by referee Joy Neville under Law 9.11 – a player must not do anything that is reckless or dangerous to others.

The panel concluded that there was an act of foul play which merited a mid-range entry point due to contact with the neck / head area of his opponent.

Scholtz will be free to play from midnight on Sunday 16 February.