Flanks Henco Venter and Rynhardt Elstadt have both received a one-match suspension for striking each other in an off-the-ball incident in Bloemfontein.

Both players were red-carded in the 80th minute of Saturday's match between the Cheetahs and Stormers after a scuffle broke out. Venter hit Elstadt in the face with his elbow and Elstadt retaliated with a punch.

The pair was charged with contravening Law 10.4 (a) Striking with the elbow, hand, arm or fist. Both fouls were merited a low entry point of two weeks, but mitigating factors including the players’ admission of guilt at the first available opportunity saw the sanctions reduced from two to one week.

The Cheetahs have a bye this coming weekend, therefore Venter is suspended up to and including Friday, 14 July, which will see him miss their game against the Kings in two weeks’ time.

Elstadt has been suspended from all forms of the game up to and including 8 July, ruling him out of the Stormers’ match against the Sunwolves at Newlands on Saturday.

Photo: Johan Pretorius/Gallo Images