Former Bradford & Bingley No 8 Chris Hala’ufia has been suspended for eight weeks for a dangerous tackle on Northampton’s Shane Geraghty during an LV= Cup match on January 29.
London Irish’s Hala’ufia pleaded guilty before an RFU disciplinary panel of Jeremy Summers (chairman), Elizabeth Riley and Dr Julian Morris and cannot play again until April 6.
Summers said: “This was a cynical and deliberate act of foul play aimed at taking out an opponent, with the player making no attempt to execute a lawful tackle or to intercept the pass.
"Expert medical opinion has clearly identified the risk of serious injury arising from offending of this kind.
"Because of that risk, an IRB Memorandum of 21st January 2011 made clear that tackles above the shoulder must be dealt with severely.
“This sanction reflects that direction. The player's poor previous disciplinary record was also taken into consideration.”
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