Last Updated: Fri, 03 Jul 2009 11:55
Schalk Burger has insisted he abides by "the traditions of the wonderful game of rugby" and is not a "rugby thug".
The controversial South Africa flanker was banned for eight weeks for eye-gouging in response to an incident involving wing Luke Fitzgerald in the second Test last Saturday against the British and Irish Lions.
"I am not a rugby thug and will never intentionally engage in any eye-gouging or similar action," he said.
Burger was cleared of the specific charge of eye-gouging as determined by the International Rugby Board, but was found guilty of committing an act contrary to good sportsmanship.
Experts and past players condemned the incident, for which he only received a yellow card, but Burger, who stopped short of apologising to Fitzgerald, said he would never cross the line of sportsmanship.
"I have always approached the game with the intention of only playing it hard and fair," added Burger.
"This was also the case in the second Test against the Lions. I am therefore grateful the judicial officer confirmed my stance with his conclusion that there was no deliberate eye-gouging.
"As a proud South African and Springbok rugby player, I only have the utmost respect for the traditions of the wonderful game of rugby.
"I will always play the game as hard as possible within the rules. I apologise to my supporters and fellow team-mates for the fact that I was absent for the first 10 minutes of the second Test."