Cheetahs centre handed 13-week ban

Cheetahs back Nico Lee has been suspended for 13 weeks following an incident that took place in the second half of their game against Connacht in the PRO14.

Lee was alleged to have “cleared the contents of his nose” onto an opposition player at a ruck during the South African side’s 25-17 defeat to the Irish province.

The panel deemed that it was “contrary to the spirit of sport” and decided that it merited the top-end entry point of 26 weeks.

It was halved due to the player’s admission of guilt and clean disciplinary record, but the centre will now miss the rest of his team’s PRO14 campaign.

The disciplinary committee, comprising of Owain Rhys James, Richard Cole and Nigel Williams (all Wales), found that: “The Player’s actions are an act of foul play. They have no place in the game.

“This is not a case of over-exuberance, or an act which is within the rules of the game going awry. It follows that by its nature this act is one that is deserving of punishment. It is contrary to the spirit of sport.

“The effect on the victim player was understandably serious. There is no expectation, and there ought never be an expectation, that an opposing player would clear the contents of their nose onto an opponent.

“It is difficult to imagine how an act of foul play of this sort could be worse, save for repeated acts or where actual injury is caused.”