Wallabies loose-forward David Pocock has been suspended for three weeks after pleading guilty to a charge of playing an opponent without the ball in the Brumbies' loss to the Chiefs on Saturday night in Canberra.
Brumbies loosie David Pocock. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Pocock grasped the neck of Chiefs number eight Michael Leitch in a maul six minutes from the end of the game, leaving the Japan skipper stricken on the ground, but did not receive any sanction from Australian referee Angus Gardner.
The 27-year-old will only miss two Super Rugby matches, away against the Waratahs (April 16) and home to the Crusaders (April 24), as the Canberra-based side have a bye this coming weekend.
"With respect to sanction, I deemed the act of foul play merited a low-end entry point of two weeks," (governing body) SANZAR duty judicial officer Adam Cassleden said in a statement.
"I then added one week for aggravation due to the need to deter this type of dangerous foul play. The player is free to resume playing on April 25."