Crusaders forward Pablo Matera has been cleared to take the field for Saturday's Super Rugby Pacific final against the Blues, despite his red card in last weekend's semi-final.
During the 20-7 win over the Chiefs at Christchurch, Matera was shown a yellow card for a professional foul, before copping a second for his dangerous tackle on Bryn Gatland, which automatically translated to a red card.
The incidents left Matera fearing he'd played his final match for the Crusaders, with his one-year contract set to expire at the end of this season.
A red card typically results in at least a one-match ban. But the SANZAAR judiciary has ruled Matera will face no further punishment, taking into account the mitigating factor of the rare double yellow-card scenario and the lack of a "pattern of concern".
"Two of the yellow cards were given for technical offences (that is, not foul play) and those two technical offences were of a different nature to each other," it said.
"The remaining two yellow cards again were for offences of a different nature and showed no pattern of concern.
"The judicial committee found that these were exceptional circumstances which meant that no further sanction was warranted.
"In addition, the committee decided that the red carding and sending off of the player was a sufficient penalty in these unusual circumstances and that no additional sanction was appropriate in relation to that. However, the red card will remain on the player’s record."
The Argentinian star now has four yellow cards against his name through a debut Super Rugby season in which he's become a key cog in the Crusaders' pack.
His inclusion is a huge boost for the southerners, as they look to topple the Blues at Eden Park in Saturday's final.
Join us at 7pm, Saturday for live updates of the Super Rugby Pacific final between the Blues and the Crusaders
