South African forward learns disciplinary fate after ‘eye-gouge’ allegation and Leicester Tigers’ ‘citing’
Henco Venter in action for Glasgow Warriors.
Glasgow Warriors forward Henco Venter has copped a hefty six-match ban following an alleged eye-gouge on Dan Cole in his side’s Champions Cup victory on Saturday.
The back-rower escaped punishment at the time, but was later cited by the citing commissioner.
Hugo Venter handed six-match ban following eye-gouge
The incident in question occurred in just the second minute of the game, where the pair looked to be involved in a scuffle on the floor. Leicester would go on to score in the same passage of play, but the Glasgow forward would hit back with two of his own and was later named Player of the Match.
Missed this on comms last night but looks like a gouge by Venter on Dan Cole. Needs looking at….. pic.twitter.com/Q4HyqDq2k4
— Andy Goode (@AndyGoode10) April 6, 2025
Reports from the Telegraph also suggested that Leicester had raised the issue with the citing commissioner following the match, and it has now been deemed a bannable offence.
“The Glasgow Warriors No8, Henco Venter, has been suspended for six weeks following the decision of an independent Disciplinary Committee arising from the Investec Champions Cup Round of 16 match between Glasgow Warriors and Leicester Tigers at Scotstoun Stadium on Saturday 5 April,” an EPCR statement read.
“Venter accepted he had committed an act of foul play, and that it would have warranted a red card, but that it was not intentional. The Committee heard evidence and submissions from the player and his representatives, and from the EPCR Disciplinary Officer, Liam McTiernan.
“The Committee determined that Venter had made reckless contact with the eye, in contravention of Law 9.12, and accordingly upheld the citing.
“It was decided that the offending was at the mid-range of World Rugby’s sanctions, and twelve weeks was selected as the appropriate entry point.
“Taking into account the player’s timely acceptance that he had committed an act of foul play that would have warranted a red card, his expression of remorse, clean disciplinary record and good conduct and full participation in the disciplinary hearing, the independent Disciplinary Committee decided to reduce the sanction by the maximum of 50% before imposing a six-week suspension.”
The exact games he will miss are also dependent on the club’s upcoming fixture list, given they are still involved in the Champions Cup knock-out stages, but it can be assumed he will not feature in his side’s quarter-final clash with Leinster this weekend.