The plague of red cards on Super Rugby Pacific has taken its toll, with three of the competition's leading players banned a total of 10 weeks for foul play over the weekend.
Crusaders captain Scott Barrett was red-carded early in the second half for late, no-arms, head contact to Blues prop Alex Hodgman in their top-of-the-table clash at Christchurch.
Highlanders lock Josh Dickson was sent off for a high tackle on Hurricanes prop Tevita Mafileo, while Hurricanes hooker Asofa Aumua was cited for an incident late in the same encounter at Dunedin.
All Blacks lock Barrett, 28, who has a red-card track record, will serve four weeks on the sidelines, while Dickson and Aumua have copped three weeks each.
While Dickson's offence was relatively clearcut, his early exit left Highlanders captain Aaron Smith fuming, after flanker Gareth Evans left the field late, complaining of a high hit and pointing at a developing shiner to his eye. Aumua was later cited for the incident.
All three have had their punishments reduced from a starting point of six weeks, due to their remorse and guilty pleas, Dickson and Aumua were further rewarded for their clean records, while Barrett has a track record for similar offences.
In 2019, the international second-rower was banned three weeks for an identical tackle on Australian captain Michael Hooper in a Perth Bledisloe Cup test.
As first-time offenders, Dickson and Aumau may also have the last weeks of their bans rescinded, if they undergo corrective counseling.
"The player was informed of his ability to apply for the head contact process coaching intervention," says committee chair Michael Heron QC.
"Any player who has a citing or red card upheld by a disciplinary panel for foul play involving the head contact process may apply to have the final week of their sanction substituted by undertaking a coaching intervention that specifically addresses the technical tackle/contact technique-error that caused or contributed to the foul play.
"This intervention will be overseen by the World Rugby coaching intervention expert review panel - a panel of expert independent coaches - and is only be available to first time offenders."
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