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Ruan Ackermann set for disrupted summer after receiving ban for red card

Dublin , Ireland - 6 June 2026; Referee Hollie Davidson shows a yellow card to Ruan Ackermann of DHL Stormers during the United Rugby Championship semi-final match between Leinster and DHL Stormers at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. (Photo By David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile via Getty Images)
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Stormers No.8 Ruan Ackermann will not be available for the early stages of the 2026 Currie Cup after being banned for three matches following his red card in last week’s 21-12 semi-final defeat to Leinster.

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Ackermann was initially yellow-carded for his dangerous clearout on Ronan Kelleher in the 69th minute, which was later upgraded to a red by referee Hollie Davidson.

The former Gloucester player admitted he had committed foul play that warranted a red card during the disciplinary process overseen by judicial officer Simon Thomas.

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His admission of wrongdoing and previously clean disciplinary record led to the six-week sanction being reduced in half.

The suspension means Ackermann will miss the Stormers XXIII’s opening three Currie Cup matches against Griquas, Boland and the Sharks, although he will be eligible for the latter fixture if he successfully complete’s World Rugby’s Coaching Intervention Programme.

Stormers were only trailing by two points when he committed his act of foul play.

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cnw 2 hours ago
Kieran Read: All Blacks missing 'absolute belief' that Springboks possess

The Boks played amazing rugby in Wellington - they clicked and from there they settled into a winning combination of core players including Wiese. But I debate whether adding Wiese to the team in Auckland would have made a winning difference. The ABs were primed for that game and to Razors credit, he pulled together a clearly winning game plan. It will be very interesting to see whether the Boks use the depth you mention - many of those players were not chosen for the key games last year. Rather Rassie stuck to the core selections - and can you blame him. It was very successful. But all the top teams have been watching and building. The “Razor” ABs have for the most part gone well in the SR (except perhaps notably BB - thankfully - because he is past his best). There are also several new players emerging too and some older ones coming into good form (eg Numia, Norris, EDG, Proffit, Tosi, Ta’avao, Ahio, Dyer, Aumua, Taukei’aho, Vaa’i, Lord, Hannah, Darry, Segner, Casey, Howden, Sititi (though he took a scary knock last week), Lakai, Flanders, Roigard, Ratima, Lennox, Hotham, Love, DMac, JB, Tupaea, Fai’anganuku, Proctor, Fehi, Moorby, Naholo, Clarke, Harkin). And there are ofcourse senior players like Lomax, Ardie, Taylor, Mo’unga, Jordan, Tuipulotu, Ofa who, if they find form, may add serious experience to the ABs come August. So agree Boks have serious depth - but only 23 play on the day - and ABs look much better placed player wise than they have for a while.

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