Cats lock suspended for 12 weeks

Cats lock Theunis du Plooy was today suspended for 12 weeks after being found guilty of two separate stamping incidents in last Friday's Super 12 rugby match against the Chiefs.

A Sanzar judiciary committee today suspended Du Plooy from all rugby up to and including July 11, which has ruled him out for the rest of the Super 12 season.

The committee found Du Plooy guilty of stamping on the head of a Chiefs player at a ruck early in the match, and for an identical offence towards the end of the first half, the committee said in a statement tonight

In the second offence television replays showed Du Plooy stamping Chiefs prop Deacon Manu's head. The prop was treated for injuries before continuing to play.

In both cases Du Plooy admitted that he had stamped on the Chiefs' players concerned, but stressed the contact to the head was unintentional.

The committee found both cases were within the middle range of seriousness in the International Rugby Board's guideline where the use of a boot was a clear risk of serious head injuries.

The Cats next Super 12 match is against the Crusaders in Christchurch on Saturday.

- NZPA