A French club's centre has been banned for nine weeks for a "top end offence" after a shoulder charge on an Irish opponent in a European Challenge Cup rugby game.
Fiji‑born Adrea Cocagi contested the red card he received in Perpignan's home game against Connacht last weekend.
The 24‑year‑old was sent off by English referee Ian Tempest in the 58th minute after striking Matt Healy with his shoulder while attempting a tackle on the Connacht wing.
He faced a hearing conducted by European Professional Club Rugby in Paris yesterday.
An independent disciplinary committee upheld the red card decision and found that as Cocagi had launched himself at speed at a prone opponent, it found that the act of foul play was at the top end of World Rugby's sanctions.
A top end offence generally attracts a ban of between 10 and 52 weeks, but the committee selected 10 weeks as the appropriate entry point.
[Source: stuff]
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