Rugby: Bulls lose strike weapon for semi

PRETORIA - Reigning champions the Bulls will be without leading tryscorer Gerhard van den Heever for the Super 14 semifinals after the wing was suspended for two weeks today for a dangerous tackle.

Van den Heever was handed the ban after being yellow-carded and cited for the spear tackle on Canterbury's Tim Bateman in Saturday's game at Loftus Versfeld.

The Bulls won 40-35, to seal a home semifinal, but will be without Van den Heever for the regular season game against the Stormers this Sunday and next weekend's semi at Soweto's Orlando Stadium.

The 21-year-old Van den Heever has scored eight tries in 12 matches for the Bulls this season and is second on the Super 14 try scorers' list behind the Blues' All Blacks wing Joe Rokocoko.

Southern hemisphere rugby's ruling body SANZAR said in a statement that "Van den Heever's youth and unblemished disciplinary record counted in his favour when he was sentenced."

SANZAR said Van den Heever will be suspended up to and including Saturday May 22 but he will be able to play in the final if the Bulls qualify.

The Super 14 semifinals are scheduled for May 21 and 22, with the final a week later on May 29.

Cheetahs forward Kabamba Floors was suspended for five weeks for a similar tackle on ACT's Julian Huxley earlier in the season.

The Bulls will play their semifinal at the Orlando football stadium in South Africa's most famous township - the first major rugby match to be held in Soweto - after handing over Loftus to FIFA for the World Cup.

- AP