Mathew Luamanu banned for three weeks

Harlequins forward Mat Luamanu has been handed a three-week ban by Rugby Football Union (RFU) for performing a dangerous tackle during the Aviva Premiership encounter against Sale Sharks at AJ Bell Stadium last week.

The 27-year-old was red-carded in the 70th minute as he charged towards Sale Sharks number eight Josh Beaumont resulting in a concussion.

Luamanu, who moved to England to join the Quins in the 2015/16 season of the Aviva Premiership will now miss the upcoming three fixtures for the club against Exeter Chiefs, Saracens and Wasps.

The chairman of RFU disciplinary panel Jerry Summers described the incident as "reckless" while confirming Luamanu's three-week ban.

"The panel found that this was a reckless act by the player.

"However it was a forceful collision resulting in a concussion being sustained by Josh Beaumont which was taken in to account when finding this a mid-range offence.

"The player was thereafter given full mitigation reducing this to a three-week ban."

After starting the 2016/17 season with a victory, Harlequins slipped to seventh position in the table following their defeat to Sale Sharks.