Former All Black and current Toulouse loose forward Jerome Kaino has been banned for five matches, after striking Bath's Jamie Roberts in their Champions Cup match on Sunday (NZ time).
The 35-year-old was shown a yellow card for the 39th-minute tackle, which forced Roberts off with a head injury.
- Jerome Kaino joins outrage over du Plessis-Allan 'leeches' comment
- Rugby: Veteran Jerome Kaino leaves All Blacks jersey in good hands
Kaino was given a six-week suspension, which was reduced to five, due to good conduct.
The 81-test All Black was charged by a citing commissioner and accused of striking Roberts' head with his shoulder.
He pleaded not guilty to the charge and gave evidence to the three-man disciplinary panel, but was found guilty of foul play - warranting a red card - and banned for five weeks until early December.
"The committee upheld the citing complaint, as it determined that Kaino had committed an act of foul play that warranted a red card," said tournament organisers European Professional Club Rugby.
"On the basis that the incident involved contact to the head, the committee was obliged, under World Rugby regulations, to find that the offence was at least at the mid-range of the sanctions and six weeks was selected as the appropriate entry point.
"In the absence of a guilty plea, but in consideration of the player's good conduct at the hearing, the committee decided to reduce the sanction by one week, before imposing a five-week suspension."
Luckily for Kaino's side, they went onto win the match 22-20, after Bath fullback Freddie Burns missed a penalty goal from in front in the 74th minute and then dropped the ball when attempting to score what would have been the match-winning try minutes later.
Newshub.
