Saracens lock Will Skelton banned for four weeks

Saracens lock Will Skelton has been handed a four-week ban following his red-card incident in the recently concluded Heineken Champions Cup clash against Racing 92 last Sunday.

The 27-year-old was sent-off during the game at Allianz Park during the stroke of half-time for a dangerous tackle on Racing 92 fullback Brice Dulin which was a contrary of World Rugby Law 9.13 that states 'A player must not tackle an opponent early, late or dangerously. Dangerous tackling includes, but is not limited to, tackling or attempting to tackle an opponent above the line of the shoulders even if the tackle starts below the line of the shoulders.'

Skelton appeared before an independent disciplinary committee comprising of Roddy Macleod (Scotland), Chair, Frank Hadden (Scotland) and Craig Sowman (Ireland) and was proved guilty of the charges.

The panel initially handed a six-week ban for Skelton that was reduced by two weeks following guilty plea of the player, his conduct during hearing and other mitigating factors.

As a result, Skelton will now miss Premiership games against Harlequins, Sale and Wasps and also the Premiership Cup match against Sale Sharks and will be free to resume playing from 24th February.

Despite Skelton's sent-off, Saracens went on to hold on to a 27-24 win over Racing 92 that ensured them a quarter-final berth in the ongoing Champions Cup.