Rugby

Hooker banned for head-butting O'Brien

Rugby World Cup: Russian hooker Valery Tsnobiladze's World Cup was brought to a premature end today when he was banned for three…

Wed Sept 28 2011 - 01:00

Rugby World Cup:Russian hooker Valery Tsnobiladze's World Cup was brought to a premature end today when he was banned for three weeks for head-butting Irish flanker Sean O'Brien during last Sunday's Pool C defeat in Rotorua.

Tsnobiladze protested his innocence after being cited over the incident, which took place during the 62-12 win for Ireland.

Although the judicial officer concluded the butt was "reckless rather than deliberate" and O'Brien suffered no injury, the 30-year-old will still miss his country's final match of the tournament against Australia on Saturday.

Russia have lost all three of their matches so far on their World Cup debut and cannot advance to the quarter-finals.

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