Taqele Naiyaravoro faces one-week ban

Waratahs wing Taqele Naiyaravoro has been slapped a one-week ban and will miss his side's must-win Super Rugby clash against Blues on Friday.

The decision comes as a result of the 24-year-old's involvement in an airborne collision with Beauden Barrett in the 57th minute of the Super Rugby game against the Hurricanes at Allianz Stadium. The match referee Chris Pollock awarded him with a yellow card.

SANZAAR Duty Judicial Officer Robert Stezner charged Naiyaravoro with a breach of Law 10.4(i) which deals with tackling, tapping, pushing or pulling an Opponent jumping for the ball in a line-out or in open play.

"Taqele Naiyaravoro [the player] and his representatives appeared before me and admitted a breach of the Law 10.4(i) charge," said Stezner.

"Having conducted a detailed review of all the available evidence, including all camera angles and additional evidence, including from the player and submissions from his legal representative, I upheld the citing under Law 10.4 (i) Tackling, tapping, pushing or pulling an Opponent jumping for the ball in a line-out or in open play.

"With respect to sanction I deemed the act of foul play merited a low-end entry point of three weeks.

"There were no aggravating factors.

"As to mitigation, I took into account the player's good record, his early guilty plea, the circumstances of the incident itself - including the fact that it was unintentional, the player's clear remorse, his opponent's apparent acceptance of these facts and what would otherwise have been a disproportionate sanction to the level of offending, I considered a reduction of two weeks to be appropriate, making a suspension from all rugby for one week, up to and including Saturday July 16."

Waratahs must win their next encounter against the Blues on 15th July as they compete for the top spot in the Australian conference with the Brumbies.