The Sharks flanker Jean Deysel has been banned from Super Rugby for seven weeks for kneeing the Crusaders loose forward Matt Todd in the head.
The Sharks flanker Jean Deysel (left) is red carded. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The 30-year-old Deysel was sent off in the first half of the Crusaders' crushing 52-10 victory over the Sharks in Durban on Sunday morning.
Deysel was also given a red card when the teams played in Christchurch last year after stamping on the face of the Crusaders flanker Jordan Taufua.
The SANZAR judicial officer Nicholas Davidson QC said Deysel had received a three-match ban following that incident and that contributed to his hefty sentence this time round.
Deysel pleaded guilty to the foul play charge.
Davidson said the video evidence clearly showed Deysel jumping up, then bringing his right knee down on the side of Todd's head as the Crusaders forward lay on the ground.
"While Todd was fortunately not injured, the act carried real potential for injury and Todd was in a vulnerable position," he said.
Deysel won't be able to play until the end of next month.
