Munster centre Sam Tuitupou has been suspended for three weeks following an ERC disciplinary hearing in Dublin this afternoon relating to an incident in the opening Heieneken Cup clash against London Irish at the Madejski Stadium last Saturday.
The citing complaint was for a dangerous tackle on scrumhalf Paul Hodgson in contravention of Law 10.4(j) which is specifically concerned with lifting a player and dropping or driving him into the ground.
Tuitupou pleaded not guilty, but after considering the evidence and hearing submissions on behalf of the player and ERC Disciplinary Officer Roger O’Connor, the independent judicial officer, Simon Thomas of Wales, determined that Tuitupou had committed the act of foul play and imposed a suspension of three weeks.
The New Zealander will be free to play again on November 1st, ruling him out of the Heineken Cup clash against Toulon at Thomond Park on Saturday ad the Magners League clashes against Treviso and Ulster. Tuitupou’s infringement was judged to be at the lower end of the scale.
Meanwhile, Clermont Auvergne secondrow Jamie Cudmore is set to miss the Heineken Cup double-header against Leinster in December after he picked up a 10-week suspension for stamping on Saracens flanker Jacques Burger in the French side’s opening fixture at Stade Marcel Michelin last Saturday.
The Canadian international pleased not guilty to the citing charge at today’s hearing, the independent judicial officer determined that Cudmore had committed an act of stamping and imposed a suspension of 10 weeks.
The independent judicial officer determined that the appropriate ‘entry point’ was at the top end and merited nine weeks based on the intentional nature of the offence and on the injuries sustained by Burger.
The suspension was then increased from the entry point to take into account Cudmore’s previous disciplinary record, which resulted in the final suspension of 10 weeks.
Cudmore will be free to play again on Monday December 20th, ruling him out of the home game against Leinster on December 12th and the return clash at the Aviva Stadium on December 18th.
Martyn Williams will be available for Wales’ autumn internationals after receiving only a two-week suspension for striking with the knee.
Williams was cited for the offence during Cardiff Blues’ 18-17 victory over Edinburgh on Saturday. The 35-year-old openside flanker dropped his knee into the head of Edinburgh fullback Chris Paterson.
He accepted the citing complaint and the hearing decided his offence was at the low entry point in its severity, entailing a three-match suspension.
However, his good disciplinary record was taken into account and the ban was reduced to two weeks.
Had the hearing taken a more draconian view, Williams could have missed all or part of Wales’ November series against Australia, South Africa, Fiji and New Zealand.
He is free to play from October 27th, making him available for the Millennium Stadium opener against the Wallabies.
The ban rules him out of Cardiff’s Heineken Cup match against Castres and Magners League showdown with the Scarlets, but he will be available to face Aironi a week later should Wales decide he needs more match time.
Scarlets flanker Jonny Fa’amatuainu received a three-ban for his dangerous tackle on Perpignan winger Adrien Plante during Saturday’s 43-34 home victory.
Fa’amatuainu pleaded guilty to the citing complaint and it was decided his offence was mid-entry level in its severity, resulting in a six-week suspension.
The hearing reduced the length of the ban after taking into account his acknowledgement of guilt, good disciplinary record and remorse.
Fa’amatuainu, on loan from Bath, will be free to play again on November 3rd.