Lions hooker Robbie Coetzee banned for three games
Tuesday 26 May 2015 17:45, UK
Lions hooker Robbie Coetzee has been banned for three Super Rugby games for an illegal tackle.
It means the South African will miss the remainder of the regular season and the first round of the play-offs if his team qualifies.
Coetzee was banned until after June 20 for his lifting tackle on Cheetahs back Rayno Benjamin in the Lions' 40-17 win on Saturday.
He was sent to the sin bin at the time, but SANZAR have since decided on a sterner punishment.
Coetzee will miss the Lions' last two regular-season games against New South Wales and the Stormers and the June 20 playoffs but will be eligible for the semi-finals if the Lions get that far.
The Johannesburg-based Lions are two points off the play-offs and could make the knockout stage for the first time since 2001.
