Wales and Cardiff scrum-half Richie Rees looks set to miss the entire RBS 6 Nations campaign after being handed a 12-week ban by an independent European Rugby Cup disciplinary panel for making contact with the eye of Northampton hooker Dylan Hartley in a Heineken Cup match last month.
The citing complaint made by the citing commissioner for the match, Murray Whyte (Ireland), was for acts contrary to good sportsmanship in contravention of law 10.4(m) in that Rees had made contact with the eye/eye area of Hartley.
Rees pleaded not guilty to the complaint on the basis that any contact had been accidental.
But, after independent judicial officer Pat Barriscale (Ireland) reviewed all the evidence, including several angles of the incident from television footage and medical statements relating to the injuries sustained by Hartley, the Welshman was found guilty.
An ERC statement read: 'The judicial officer determined that Mr Rees was guilty of foul play in contravention of Law 10.4(m) in that he had made contact with the eye/eye area of Mr Hartley.
'The judicial officer found that the contact had been reckless and not intentional.
'The judicial officer found that the offending was at the low end of the level of seriousness for an offence of this type, and having taken into account all aggravating and mitigating factors imposed a suspension of 12 weeks.
'Mr Rees is free to play again on 31 March, 2011.'
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