Super Rugby
Francois Steyn cleared of tip tackle
March 24, 2015
Francois Steyn is free to face the Force this weekend © Getty Images
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Sharks back Francois Steyn has been cleared of dangerous play following his tackle on Chiefs first five-eighth Aaron Cruden during their heated Super Rugby game in Durban.

Springboks second five-eighth Steyn was one of three players shown red cards in the first half of the game won 12-11 by the Sharks on Saturday.

A Sanzar judicial committee found Steyn not guilty of a lifting tackle and ordered the cancellation of his red card. The committee ruled that two other Sharks players involved in the tackle contributed to Cruden's awkward landing and that Steyn had executed a legitimate tackle on the All Blacks playmaker.

The other two red-card offenders from the game pleaded guilty and were handed bans on Sunday. Sharks captain Bismarck du Plessis was banned for four weeks and rival hooker Hika Elliot for one.

Chiefs co-captain Liam Messam has been charged with a dangerous tackle from the same game. His judicial hearing will be held on Tuesday.

© AAP

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