Watch: Emmanuel Tshituka suspended after Schalk Burger argued that it was 'never a red card.'

Emmanuel Tshituka was red-carded for for this incident. Photo: Screenshot.

Lions forced to tweak squad after star cops heavy ban

The Lions will be without Emmanuel Tshituka for Saturday’s Challenge Cup quarter-final against Glasgow after flank was given a three-week ban.

Watch: Emmanuel Tshituka suspended after Schalk Burger argued that it was 'never a red card.'

Emmanuel Tshituka was red-carded for for this incident. Photo: Screenshot.

The Lions will be without star Emmanuel Tshituka for their Challenge Cup quarter-final against Glasgow Warriors on Saturday after the flank was given a three-week suspension.

LIVE UPDATES: SPRINGBOKS’ ROAD TO THE RUGBY WORLD CUP

Tshituka was sent off with a straight red card in the Lions’ Challenge Cup round of 16 match against Racing 92 at Ellis Park in Johannesburg last Saturday.

The incident happened in the 18th minute when the 22-year-old Tshituka was sent packing by the English referee, Karl Dickson, for a collision with Racing’s Louis Dupichot, and making contact with the fullback’s head using his forearm.

Subsequently, Tshituka had to appear before an independent disciplinary hearing, after which he was sanctioned with a three-week suspension.

ALSO READ: Rassie talks future coaching plans after Springboks

WATCH: THE TSHITUKA INCIDENT BELOW

According to a press release issued by the EPCR on behalf of the independent disciplinary committee, the red card decision was upheld because Tshituka had been guilty of a reckless act of foul play.

The committee determined that it was a mid-range offence, and six weeks was selected as the appropriate entry point.

Due to Tshituka’s clear disciplinary record and his timely apology to Dupichot, the committee reduced the sanction by three weeks before imposing a three-week suspension.

He will be free to play from Monday, April 24, unless he applies for and successfully completes a World Rugby Coaching Intervention, in which case he will be available seven days earlier.

THAT WAS NEVER A RED CARD

At the time of the issuing of the red card, Springbok Schalk Burger, in his role as a Supersport presenter, came out in defence of Tshituka and said Dupichot’s technique played a significant role in the collision.

“I just feel we need to be so careful with rugby, where we are going,” Burger said.

“We had the Freddie Steward incident, also with an elbow to the head, but sort of clumsy and messy, a player protecting himself from another one.”

“This is a player carrying the ball against someone [Dupichot] who has quite poor technique.

“You are going to bump him off. The fact that the player then gets knocked out, that’s rugby. We play a contact sport; we have to be so careful. For me, it was never a red card.”

ALSO READ | UK PUBLICATION DECLARES: IRELAND WILL WIN WORLD CUP

LIONS SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT

The Lions announced their traveling squad for the Challenge Cup clash against the Glasgow Warriors on Tuesday. The squad members are listed below.

The Lions squad for their Challenge Cup quarter-final against Glasgow.
The Lions squad for their Challenge Cup quarter-final against Glasgow. Photo: Twitter.

ALSO WATCH: Damian Willemse wonder try from ALL the angles