The Counties Manukau rugby coach Tana Umaga will be on the sidelines for his side's first Ranfurly Shield defence against Taranaki at the weekend.
Umaga has been given a two-match suspended ban until the end of October following a misconduct hearing.
The hearing related to insulting comments directed at match officials following Counties-Manuakau's loss to Auckland last week.
The ban will come into effect in the event Umaga is the subject of any similar misconduct in that time