Ardie Savea Photo: Photosport
All Blacks loose forward Ardie Savea has been handed a one-week suspension after he directed a throat-slitting gesture at an opponent following a yellow card during a Super Rugby Pacific match last week.
Savea was given a warning for the gesture but the judiciary decided that that combined with a yellow card warranted a suspension.
The Hurricanes captain was heading to the sin bin after being penalised for his part in a melee when he drew his thumb across his throat as he exchanged words with Melbourne Rebels halfback Ryan Louwrens.
Savea later apologised, saying the gesture was "out of character" for him.
The 29-year-old faced a SANZAAR foul play review committee as he had been booked and received a warning having contravened the law that states a player must not do anything that is "against the spirit of good sportsmanship".
"After considering a number of factors... and due to the nature of the player's persistent offending, with both the yellow card and the warning being issued for unsportsmanlike play, an appropriate sanction for the player would be a suspension of one week," Judicial Committee Chairman Nigel Hampton said.
Savea will be suspended for Saturday's home game against the Blues in Welington.
-Reuters