Rugby: Chiefs duo cleared but Leonard out

Chiefs halfback Brendon Leonard could be out for up to six weeks with a chest injury. Photo / Getty Images

Two Chiefs players charged with dangerous play in their team's 28-10 Super 14 rugby win over the Cheetahs in South Africa will face no further penalty following a Sanzar judicial hearing.

However, the Chiefs could be without Brendon Leonard for up to six weeks after the former All Black halfback suffered a chest injury in yesterday's match.

Prop James McGougan was cited for alleged trampling in the 58th minute of the match, while centre Richard Kahui was cited for a dangerous tackle on Frans Viljoen in the 78th minute.

McGougan pleaded guilty to the trampling, which was penalised at the time by referee Nathan Pearce. Sanzar judicial officer Jannie Lubbe issued a reprimand and decided to take no further action.

Kahui, cited for a dangerous "spear" tackle in the 78th minute of the match on Viljoen, pleaded not guilty. The defence presented footage of the incident that was not available to the citing commissioner at the time.

Lubbe said that a review of the evidence found there was no lifting of the player and driving of him into the ground. Kahui was therefore not guilty.

The Chiefs' good news at the judiciary was offset by the injury to Leonard, who injured his sternoclavicular joint just before halftime.

The sternoclavicular joint is where the collar bone connects to the sternum in the middle of the chest at the top.

Chiefs coach Foster said the injury was a difficult one to predict a recovery time, and Leonard could be out for between two to six weeks.

He is staying with the Chiefs camp in South Africa and will be further assessed and observed this week.

The Chiefs have two more games in South Africa, against the Bulls in Pretoria next Saturday and against the Stormers in Cape Town the following week.

The Chiefs wider training group halfback David Bason is on his way to South Africa to join the Chiefs squad. He is the 26th player to join the squad, with a decision on whether to send winger Sitiveni Sivivatu to South Africa to be made later this week.

Foster has already said Sivivatu will not be available for the Bulls match this weekend.

The Chiefs snatched the Super 14 lead on points differential, their success against the Cheetahs lifting them atop the table on 31 points.

- NZPA