Sale Sharks back row Jean-Luc du Preez banned for three weeks

Sale Sharks back-row Jean-Luc du Preez will miss three weeks of action after he was handed a ban following his red-card incident during the recently concluded Gallagher Premiership clash against Worcester Warriors at Sixways.

The 24-year-old was sent-off at the end of the first half for a shoulder charge on Worcester lock Graham Kitchener and was initially handed a six-week ban by an independent disciplinary committee that was reduced by half considering clean disciplinary record and other mitigating factors.

Du Preez was also handed a club fine of £1,000 for his foul play.

"My fellow player was carrying the ball and I attempted to latch on to him," explained Du Preez, in a note to the committee.

"He went to ground with the ball and I found myself in front of the ball-carrier.

"I was in a high position and at the last second, I saw the defending player also in an upright position. At this point, I braced myself for contact and unfortunately made contact with the Worcester player’s head. It was a clumsy contact and at no point did I intend to cause any harm to the player."

Du Preez will now miss back-to-back European Champions Cup games against Exeter Chiefs along with Gallagher Premiership clash against Northampton Saints.