SLSRFA, SLRRA withdraw Kayser’s red card

The Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association in consultation with the Sri Lanka Rugby Referees Association yesterday decided to withdraw the red card which was shown on St. Joseph’s College prop forward Yohan Kayser.

The ruggerite was penalized and sent off the field by the referee mid way in the second half as St. Joseph’s College battled it out with 14 men in their 41st annual inter school battle of the Saints encounter against St. Peter’s College on Saturday at the Royal Sports Complex.

The red card was withdrawn immediately following a joint letter of protest by the Rector of St. Joseph’s College and the Rugby Advisory Committee of St. Joseph’s College.

The Rector of St. Joseph’s College has highlighted the fact that this refereeing error had a significant bearing on the outcome of the match as the Peterites scored twice after the incident to pull off the game 23-17. As a result the of this error on the part of the referee St Joseph’s College were deprived of a key player (Yohan Kayser) for 18 minutes during a vital portion of the game.

Kayser played a key role in match and was the main front row forward and ball carrier for St. Joseph’s. The red carding of such a key player had a significant impact on the result.