Xavier Rush has been handed a one-week ban for being sent off during Cardiff's Heineken Cup clash with Northampton on Sunday.
Blues number eight banned for a week after red card
Xavier Rush has been handed a one-week ban for being sent off during Cardiff's Heineken Cup clash with Northampton on Sunday.
Rush was sent off by referee Jerome Garces for a dangerous tackle above the line of the shoulders on Courtney Lawes, in contravention of Law 10.4 (e).
After Wednesday's disciplinary hearing, an ERC statement read: "It was a recklessly effected tackle with no intent by Mr Rush to make contact as high as he did.
"There was also no intent to cause injury and Mr Lawes appeared to almost be on one knee at the time of impact.
"The independent judicial officer considered there were no aggravating factors and he accepted that Mr Rush pleaded guilty, that he had an excellent record, that he showed remorse and that he conducted himself well at the hearing. This mitigation resulted in a one-week reduction from the entry point of two weeks.
Suspension
"Mr Rush is therefore suspended for one week up to and including December 27 and is free to play on December 28."
Cardiff director of rugby David Young felt his squad could cope with Rush's short-term absence.
"We have got cover in the back row with Tom Brown, Andries Pretorius and Maama Molitika able to play at number eight but obviously we want to go into the festive derbies with our best players," Young said.
"Xavier Rush is not a dirty player and we felt the sending-off was quite harsh.
"It's good news that he will be available for selection for our match against the Ospreys on New Year's Eve."
