Munster's Arno Botha cops three-week ban

Munster loosehead prop has been banned for three-weeks following an independent disciplinary hearing held on Wednesday.

The 28-year-old, who came off the bench during the recently concluded Champions Cup game against Saracens at Thomond Park last weekend was red-carded in the closing stage by referee Romain Poite for a strike on Nick Tompkins.

The decision did not prove costly for the Irish side as they held on to a 10-3 win to move second in Pool 4 table behind Racing 92.

Botha attended the independent disciplinary hearing on Wednesday via a video conference with the panel comprising of Dan White (England), Chair, Frank Hadden (Scotland) and Marcello d’Orey (Portugal) upheld the red-card sanction.

The South African back-row was initially handed a six week ban that was reduced by three weeks taking into account his clean disciplinary record, guilty plea and other mitigating factors.

Botha will now miss the return Champions Cup game against Saracens at Allianz Park along with Pro14 matches against Connacht and Leinster and will be available to play from 30th December.