Bulls' Johan Goossen suspended for three weeks (Seb Daly/Gallo Images)
The Bulls have suffered a major blow on the road to the United Rugby Championship (URC) play-offs, with flyhalf Johan Goossen suspended for the next three league games.
The 31-year-old was shown a straight red card after colliding heads with half-back Craig Casey in last weekend's 27-22 defeat to Munster at Loftus Versfeld.
Read | Bulls coach White laments Gosen's expensive red card: “It changed the outcome of the game.''
The Bulls led 22-17 with less than 30 minutes left, but once they were down to 14 men, they were always in contention.
In a statement released by URC on Thursday, it was confirmed that the Bulls will be without their main playmaker for three weeks.
“In the player's response to the judicial officer overseeing the disciplinary process (Sheriff of Scotland Catherine Mackie), he admitted that he had committed an offense worthy of a red card,” the statement read. .
“Sheriff McKee ruled that the incident met the criteria for a red card and that he was given six weeks to play in the midrange. The player was given three weeks (50% ), and as a result, he was suspended for three games. ”
Games in which Johan Goossen cannot participate:
Bulls vs. Ospreys, April 27, 2024, URC
Bulls vs. Glasgow Warriors, May 11, 2024, URC
Bulls vs. Benetton, May 18, 2024, URC
The Bulls currently sit in fourth place in the URC table with four league games remaining before the knockouts, and will be hoping to at least maintain that position and qualify for the home quarter-finals.
With Goosen out, the Reds will likely rely on reliable Chris Smith to wear the number 10 shirt for the next three games, although Jaco van der Walt is also an option.
Saturday's game against the Ospreys kicks off at 3pm.
