Cheetahs centre Nico Lee has received a 13-week ban for clearing the contents of his nose on an opponent during his side’s loss to Connacht last weekend.
Tries from Tom Farrell, Tom McCartney and Jarrad Butler were enough to give the westerners another strong win in Glaway but the match was somewhat soured when Lee emptied his beak on a downed Connacht player while sealing off the ruck.
A PRO14 statement on the incident read:
“The player was reported by the Citing Commissioner in charge for alleged infringement of Law 9.27 –A Player must not do anything that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship.
“With regard to the offence, the Player accepted that he had cleared the contents of his nose onto the face of an opposing player thereby committing an act of foul play.
“The panel did not find any aggravating factors and applied mitigation of 50% in respect of the Player’s admission of facts, and his clean disciplinary record. The Panel found that the Player’s approach to the hearing and his conduct throughout was mature, sensible and considered. They found that there was demonstrable “regret and an element of embarrassment about the situation.
“The committee took into account the rugby calendar for the rest of the season and for domestic fixtures in South Africa, and as a result, the player is banned for a period of 13 games and is free to play from midnight on Sunday, July 21, 2019.”
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