Messam banned for four weeks for dangerous tackle

Liam Messam has been banned for four weeks and is now the second former All Black in as many days to face the wrath of the French rugby judiciary.

The Toulon club plan to appeal Messam's suspension for a dangerous tackle imposed a day after his ex‑All Black backrow colleague Jerome Kaino was banned by France's National Rugby League for five weeks for a shoulder charge on Welsh test centre Jamie Roberts.

34-year-old Messam, had been in fine form for Toulon but was red carded for an incident against Vern Cotter's Montpellier team on October 7 when he hit centre Yvan Reilhac in a high tackle.

The 43‑test All Black sat out last weekend's 26‑25 European Champions Cup defeat to the Newcastle Falcons and will now not return until November 24 when Toulon visit Bordeaux‑Begles.

Meanwhile, the All Blacks take on the Wallabies at 6pm next Saturday in their final Bledisloe Cup Test.

[Source:Stuff.co.nz]

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