Rugby: Hurricanes hit with off-field yellow cards

The Hurricanes' celebrations after their 30-28 Super Rugby win over the Lions in Johannesburg have been dampened, with two off-field yellow cards later issued by the Sanzar citing commissioner.

Referee Steve Walsh kept his cards in his pocket during the game, but off-field yellows have been handed to Hurricanes lock Jason Eaton and prop Tristan Moran.

Moran's yellow was for a late and dangerous tackle on Lions five-eighth Elton Dainties in the first half, an incident where Walsh issued a penalty but the citing commissioner decided further action needed to be taken.

Eaton's yellow was for stamping or trampling an opponent in the second half of the tightly fought match, an incident which was not acted on by the referee.

In last week's first-up 26-39 loss to the Stormers in Cape Town, Hurricanes props Moran, Ben May and Jeffery Toomaga-Allen were all sin-binned.

Sanzar revamped the Super Rugby judicial system this season, introducing a white card for referees to use if they suspected foul play but didn't see the incident or were unsure of the culprit.

The citing commissioner then views the incident, checking to see if it requires judicial action.

Off-field yellow cards are issued by the citing commissioner for foul play incidents that he believes are very close to, but don't meet, the red card threshold for citing.

They have the same status as on-field cards, and a player must attend a judicial hearing once he accumulates three.

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