Bristol Bears will be without star winger Siva Naulago for four games following his red card in the defeat to Bath Rugby on Saturday.
An independent disciplinary hearing last night judged the Fijian winger’s high tackle, in which his shoulder made contact with the head of Bath’s Will Butt, was a midrange offence.
He accepted the charge and the panal noted Naulago sought out referee Luke Pearce after the match to apologise for the foul play as well as apologising to the player who reported concussion symptoms at half time and was removed.
Butt later passed post-match Head Injury Assessments.
Naulago’s red card came just 33 minutes into his return to action following a two-game suspension after being red-carded against London Irish for a similar high tackle offence.
On that occasion the former rugby league man’s ban was reduced from three games to two after he was allowed to take a World Rugby’s Coaching Intervention Programme which outlines better, safer tackle technique, however, it appears the 30-year-old failed to learn his lesson
Naulago is free to play again on April 5 meaning he will be able to play in the Bears' Heineken Champions Cup home and away games in the last 16 knockout stages, with a good run in Europe Bristol's only opportunity to salvage something out of a disappointing season.
Naulago will miss the following games:
March 13 - Harlequins (H) - Gallagher Premiership
March 18 - Bath Rugby (H) - Premiership Rugby Cup
March 26 - Saracens (A) - Gallagher Premiership or Army v RAF
March 30 - Gloucester Rugby (H) - Premiership Rugby Cup
The full judgement can be read here .
