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Flip van der Merwe banned for 3 weeks for striking

SYDNEY (AP) — Bulls captain Flip van der Merwe will miss this weekend's Super Rugby match against the Western Force and two more in South Africa after being banned for three weeks for striking an opponent in last Saturday's 19-12 loss to New South Wales in Sydney.

SANZAR judicial hearing chairman Adam Casselden on Wednesday found the veteran South Africa lock guilty of striking Waratahs prop Paddy Ryan in the face in the 75th minute of the game.

In a statement, Casselden said Van der Merwe "did strike Ryan's nose with his hand, arm or fist" but that no injury was sustained despite the New South Wales front-rower being in a vulnerable position at the base of a collapsed scrum.