Veteran prop Owen Franks has been suspended for two weeks, Super Rugby said on Tuesday, shutting him out of critical games for the Canterbury Crusaders against the Auckland Blues and Waikato Chiefs.
The 36-year-old was sent off late in Friday’s 14-10 home loss to Wellington Hurricanes leaders after making a dangerous head contact with forward Justin Sangster at a ruck.
A Super Rugby Foul Play Review Committee issued Franks a four-week punishment, which was reduced to a fortnight after he entered a guilty plea.
The former All Blacks prop, who made his final 108 appearances for New Zealand in 2019, will miss Saturday’s game against the Blues and March 29’s home game against the Chiefs.
The Crusaders have yet to win a game this season.
The Canterbury-based squad had won seven consecutive Super Rugby crowns, but Friday’s home defeat marked the first time they had lost four games in a row since the competition began in 1996.
They are already missing captain Scott Barrett, All Blacks back Will Jordan, and British and Irish Lions full-half Leigh Halfpenny due to injury.
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