Lions flanker Siba Mahashe has been cleared after a spitting allegation made against him during Saturday's 24-17 loss to Munster at Thomond Park was found to have no evidentiary basis.
Munster captain Craig Casey communicated the allegation to referee Andrea Piardi during the match, claiming Mahashe spat in a Munster player's face. The TMO found no usable footage at the time, and the matter was referred to citing commissioner Eugene Ryan (IRFU) for further review.
The URC's subsequent statement confirmed that all available camera angles were examined and the footage was inconclusive. "There was no clear and obvious unsportsmanlike conduct by Lions No 6," the statement read. While audio captured Munster's No 16 stating that Mahashe spat into his mouth, Mahashe categorically denied the accusation, telling officials he had trouble with his gumshield following contact at an upright before a ruck. With the two accounts contradicting each other and no corroborating footage, the citing commissioner ruled no action was feasible.
The Lions were angered by the allegation, particularly after Casey suggested the incident was visible on the big screen at Thomond Park — a claim the review process did not support.
The squad has elected to remain in Dublin rather than return to Johannesburg ahead of their URC quarterfinal against Leinster next weekend. Centre Henco van Wyk (ankle) and captain Francke Horn (hamstring) will have scans in Ireland on Tuesday, with availability decisions to follow. Flanker Ruan Venter, who returned home with a knee injury after the Leinster pool match, is also being assessed this week. Scrumhalf Morne van den Berg has returned to South Africa for treatment on a bicep injury.