South African Steyn suspended for two weeks

Springbok fly-half Morne Steyn has been suspended from playing rugby for two weeks pending a French National Rugby League disciplinary hearing.

The LNR which runs the Top14 Rugby tournament has announced that the South African has been suspended until his hearing on January the 22nd.

Thirty-year-old Steyn was red carded in Stade Francais’ 12-9 loss to Lyon on Friday.

The result dropped Stade down from the top position in the Top 14 tournament.

Steyn was the top scoring player in the 2011 Rugby World Cup when he played for the Bulls in Super Rugby.

“(Steyn) is suspended awaiting the meeting,” said the LNR in a statement.

Steyn had confidently kicked Stade into a 6-0 lead courtesy of a 40-metre penalty and a drop goal.

But after Mosese Ratuvou had cut the deficit with the night’s opening try, Steyn saw red in the 31st minute for kicking the Fijian winger as the two tussled on the ground.

It left Stade to play 50 minutes with 14 men and Lyon took full advantage when Ratuvou added a second try early in the second period.

Ratuvou was also called before the disciplinary commission for the incident but not suspended.

Three other Top 14 players were also called before the LNR but not suspended — Remi Lamerat (Castres), Olivier Missoup (Oyonnax) and Thomas Synaeghel (La Rochelle).