Cats' hooker Boshoff guilty of elbowing

Johannesburg - Cats' hooker Leon Boshoff was found guilty by a Canberra tribunal after being cited by the match commissioner for elbowing an opponent in a Super 12 clash against Brumbies - but was cleared to play against Sharks in Durban on Saturday.

The hearing was conducted on a conference telephone line between Australia and here, because the Cats squad had flown back before the hearing could be held, and Boshoff was allowed to return with his teammates.

He was found guilty under rugby's Law 26, 3a, for striking an opponent and also an alternative charge of unsporting behaviour under 26, 3j. Both transgressions were not seen in a serious light, hence the leniency of a temporary suspension. Under Sanzar regulations, the tribunal issued Boshoff with a yellow card.

This is Boshoff's first offence and he would need three more yellow cards before he would have to appear again before another disciplinary committee.