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Hape hit with four-week ban

Image: Shontayne Hape: Handed four-week ban after dangerous tackle

London Irish star Shontayne Hape has received a four-week ban after making a dangerous tackle against Edinburgh.

Exiles star pleads guilty to dangerous tackle

England centre Shontayne Hape has received a four-week ban after admitting making a dangerous tackle during the Heineken Cup clash between London Irish and Edinburgh. Hape was cited by French match commissioner Yves Thieffine for the tackle on Edinburgh back-row forward David Denton last Saturday. Irish star Hape cannot play again until December 15, meaning he will miss Heineken Cup games against Cardiff Blues and Racing Metro, plus Aviva Premiership appointments with Wasps and Saracens. Hape, who signed for Irish from their Premiership rivals Bath earlier this year, pleaded guilty to the offence at a hearing on Thursday, when Exiles rugby director Toby Booth and team manager Kieran McCarthy made representations on his behalf.

Seriousness

Hape was reported for being in contravention of Law 10.4 (e) - "dangerous tackling of an opponent, including a tackle or an attempted tackle above the line of the shoulders even if the tackle starts below the line of the shoulders." Judicial officer Robert Williams upheld the citing complaint and decided the offence was mid-range in terms of its seriousness level with entry point of six weeks. "When considering aggravating factors, the judicial officer added one week," said European Rugby Cup, in a statement. "Having then taken into account mitigating factors, including the player's guilty plea, clean record and clear remorse, the judicial officer reduced the period of suspension by the maximum amount of 50 per cent. "As suspensions are rounded up to whole weeks, the player was suspended for a period of four weeks." Hape has the right of appeal, but his absence for two European games is a blow to Irish, who are already on the back foot in terms of qualifying from their pool following a narrow home defeat against Edinburgh.

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