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Sun 31 Mar 2019 | 12:18
Schalk Brits and Akker van Der Merwe red carded for old school punch up

3
Comments

Former South Africa and now Bulls hooker Schalk Brits received the first red card of his career after an old school punch up with Sharks hooker Akker van Der Merwe.

The Sharks number two instigated the brawl when he appeared to headbutt Brits on the floor in a ruck and the former Saracens front rower reacted.

Even after the ball had left the breakdown the pair threw several punches and van Der Merwe looks to have attempted an eye gauge on Brits.

Both players received a red card from the referee and are likely to face significant bans, but were seen enjoying a beer together in the changing room after the game.

Brits made over 200 appearances for Saracens and earned 11 caps for the Springboks and the 37-year-old returned to play in South Africa with the Bulls this season.

The following footage may only be available to UK viewers:

Posted By: Shaywaterworth

3 Comments

  • katman
    8:34 AM 01/04/2019

    Unfair to give Brits the red card too, in my opinion. Van der Merwe clearly started it with a head-first clean out, and was then the aggressor throughout the fight. The tension here probably arises from the fact that one of these two will travel to the World Cup and one will miss out. That's if Marx and Mbonambi are the other two hookers, and if Bismarck du Plessis is out of the picture.

    • rugbydump
      10:50 AM 02/04/2019

      And he's just been banned for 4 weeks. Van der Merwe for 3.. 

      • katman
        11:36 AM 02/04/2019

        It's completely stupid. SANZAAR even admits in its ruling that Brits acted in self defense, yet he cops the longer ban. Who are these numpties making these thumbsuck findings?

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