Waratahs hooker Latu suspended for six weeks
NSW Waratahs hooker Silatolu Latu was suspended for six weeks Tuesday after pleading guilty to dangerous play late in his side's tight Super Rugby win over Japan's Sunwolves.
Latu was cited under laws preventing players from illegally charging into a ruck or maul after the incident in the 79th minute of the 31-30 Waratahs win in Tokyo on Saturday.
The referee did not see the incident that resulted in Sunwolves flanker Ed Quirk sustaining a knee injury that will sideline him for up to 10 weeks.
Officials from the competition governing body SANZAAR upheld the citing and said the incident had warranted a red card.
A judiciary panel said that Latu had been facing a 10-week ban "due to the vulnerability of the victim, the gravity of the offence and the extent of the injury caused to the victim".
But it reduced the ban to six weeks after taking into account mitigating factors including an early guilty plea, expressions of remorse from the player and the fact his most recent offence was three years ago.
Latu, who has played 12 Tests for the Wallabies, is suspended up to an including April 20.