Junior Springboks hooker Tiaan van der Merwe has been handed a six-week suspension for verbal abuse during their semi-final loss to England.

Van der Merwe was found guilty of verbally abusing England lock Joel Kpoku in the 50th minute of the match, which England went on to win 32-31.

According to the citing report, Van der Merwe made ‘a serious and gross verbal abuse of a highly offensive sexual nature in relation to a player’s mother accompanied by a highly offensive sexual gesture’.

The Lions player was cited under Law 9.12: A player must not verbally abuse anyone. Verbal abuse includes, but is not limited to, abuse based on religion, colour, national or ethnic origin, sexual orientation.

He was given a 12-week ban reduced to six weeks for a guilty plea and showing remorse.

Van der Merwe will now miss the Lions’ remaining Provincial Rugby Challenge games and one of their U21 Championship games in August.

Photo: Carl Fourie/Gallo Images