Cardiff's Matthew Rees has been suspended until January 11
Wednesday 25 November 2015 15:41, UK
Cardiff Blues hooker Matthew Rees has been handed a seven-week suspension for a stamping offence on Harlequins' Nick Easter.
The 34-year-old former Wales skipper was red carded by referee Alexandre Ruiz with seven minutes remaining of last Thursday's Challenge Cup match at Cardiff Arms Park.
Rees appeared to make contact with Easter's head and has been banned until the new year by an independent disciplinary committee.
A European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR) statement read: "Pat Barriscale (Ireland) heard evidence and submissions from Rees, who accepted he had committed an act of foul play that warranted a red card, from the Cardiff Blues team manager, Gafyn Cooper, and from the EPCR disciplinary officer, Liam McTiernan.
"In upholding the red card decision, the judicial officer found that Rees had stamped on Nick Easter and determined that the offence was at the top end of World Rugby's sanctions and selected 12 weeks as the appropriate entry point.
"He then reduced the sanction by five weeks taking into account Rees's guilty plea, timely expression of remorse to Easter, and his clean disciplinary record, before imposing a suspension of seven weeks.
"Rees is free to play on Monday, 11 January 2016. Both the player and EPCR have the right to appeal the decision."
Rees is Wales' most capped hooker with 61 appearances and played in all three Tests on the 2009 British and Irish Lions tour of South Africa
