George Pisi hit with six-week ban

George Pisi will miss the remainder of Samoa‘s Autumn internationals after being hit with a six-week ban for a tip-tackle on Ireland‘s Tommy Bowe last Saturday.
This means the Northampton Saints centre will also miss the vital double-header against Leinster in the Heineken Cup in December.
“In light of the player’s guilty plea, the citing was upheld,” the committee said in a statement.
“However, the player argued that the offending had not warranted a red card. The disciplinary committee considered the available evidence including the footage of the incident, and listened to the representations made by and on behalf of the player.
“It determined that the offending had warranted a red card and that the appropriate entry point sanction was mid-range (an eight-week suspension). The suspension was then increased by two weeks to take account of the need for a deterrent in respect of ‘tip tackles’ and then reduced by four weeks (the maximum permissible reduction) to take account of the various mitigating factors.
“Accordingly, the player is suspended for a period of six weeks and will be free to play again on Monday, December 23.”