Bundee Aki looks set to miss Ireland‘s autumn internationals after being banned for eight weeks.
The centre was sent off in the 60th minute of Connacht‘s United Rugby Championship defeat away to the Stormers for a dangerous clear-out on winger Seabelo Senatla.
The disciplinary committee felt Aki was reckless and his actions contained a “high degree of danger”.
Aki, 32, will miss five matches for Connacht as well as Ireland’s opening internationals in November with South Africa and Fiji in Dublin.
His ban will be reduced to seven weeks if he completes a coaching intervention programme, meaning he could face Australia in Ireland’s final game.
For exclusive stories and all the detailed rugby news you need, subscribe to The Rugby Paper website, digital edition, or newspaper from as little as 14p a day.