Junior Springbok banned for 'highly offensive sexual' slur about a rival's mother

SA Rugby

A Junior Springboks player has received a six-match ban for a sexually offensive slur.

Junior Springboks hooker Tiaan van der Merwe has banned for six weeks for an offensive sexually explicit taunt at an English rival at the world under-20 rugby championships in France.

He was found guilty by World Rugby of verbally abusiing England lock Joel Kpoku as South Africa slumped to a 32-31 semifinal defeat last week.

A World Rugby judiciary report said van der Merwe made "a serious and gross abuse of a highly offensive sexual nature in relation to a player's mother accompanied by a highly offensive sexual gesture".

He 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.

READ MORE: Junior Boks beat Baby Blacks for bronze

The World Rugby report said the referee was informed of the abuse by England captain Ben Curry. 

Kpoku said he had not heard the abuse directly but was told about van der Merwe's taunt by England prop Joe Heyes.

The report said van der Merwe's offensive comment was audible through the referee's microphone.

Van der Merwe initially faced a six-week ban but the sentence was halved after he pleaded guilty and expressed contrition.

SA Rugby magazines said van der Merwe will miss the Golden Lions' remaining Provincial Challenge games and an under-21 Championship match in August.