Sharks centre Francois Steyn has had since red card in Saturday's Super Rugby victory of the Chiefs rescinded.

The South Africa international was given his marching orders after being deemed to have made an illegal challenge on Aaron Cruden in the first half of his side's 12-11 win.

Steyn will not face a ban, though, after a judicial committee on Monday ruled that he should not have been dismissed.

Judicial chairman Jannie Lubbe stated: "After careful consideration of video evidence, including additional video evidence and still frames submitted by the legal representative of Francois Steyn, Gerrie Swart, as well as the oral explanation of Steyn, it was concluded that Steyn did not act in breach of Law 10.4 (j). 

"It was also found that two other Sharks players were involved in the tackle and that one of the players, Cobus Reinach, played a significant part in what appeared to be a serious and dangerous tackle. 

"A detailed analysis of the execution of the tackle by Steyn clearly showed that he executed a perfectly legitimate tackle on Aaron Cruden, but that the intervention of his teammates applying additional and external forces to the dynamic tackle situation resulted in what the referee deemed to be a breach of Law 10.4 (j).

"This decision is not meant to be critical of the match officials who had to take and make their decision on the field of play without the benefit I had of additional video material and submissions by legal counsel.

"The referee and his assistant on the available evidence at their disposal came to the conclusion that Cruden got lifted in the tackle by Steyn and made contact with the ground with his head first. The video material before me clearly shows that Cruden made contact with the ground first with his right hand and upper arm, followed by shoulder and back. The momentum of the tackle then caused him to roll so that his head and neck made contact with the ground.

"As a result of this finding, the red card will be expunged from the player's record."

Bismark du Plessis and Hika Elliot were also red-carded in the first half of an ill-tempered encounter and will serve four and one week suspensions respectively.