Mafi picks up seven week ban

Rugby: Lifeimi Mafi has paid the price for his “dangerous tackle” on Gordon D’Arcy after the IRFU disciplinary panel today banned…

Rugby:Lifeimi Mafi has paid the price for his "dangerous tackle" on Gordon D'Arcy after the IRFU disciplinary panel today banned the Munster player for seven weeks.

Mafi was cited for a high tackle on Gordon D’Arcy during last weekend’s Magners League provincial derby, which Leinster won 13-9 against Munster at a packed Aviva Stadium.

Today’s hearing took place at the Ulster branch offices in Ravenhill and was chaired by Hugh Logan alongside Stephen Hilditch and Ian McIlrath.

“Having studied the match footage and heard all available evidence, the disciplinary panel found Mafi guilty under law 10.4 (e) for a dangerous tackle and decided that it was at the top end of entry for such an offence,” the panel noted.

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“The panel took into account the players previous good disciplinary record before they imposed a sanction of seven weeks suspension, up to and including Sunday, November 21st, 2010.”

It means the powerful centre is in line to miss Munster’s two Heineken Cup Pool matches and three Magners League games, though he has the right of appeal.

Munster take on London Irish in their Heineken Cup Pool 3 opener at the Madejski Stadium on Saturday before playing host to Toulon at Thomond Park the following Saturday.

The Tonga native, who played for the All Blacks at under age level, will also miss Magners League encounters against Treviso, Scarlets and another provincial derby when Tony McGahan’s men face up to Ulster at Ravenhill on Friday, October 29th.