Saracens hooker Schalk Brits suspended for three weeks
Wednesday 24 February 2016 15:13, UK
Schalk Brits has been suspended for three weeks after the Saracens player pleaded guilty to punching Gloucester's Nick Wood.
The South Africa hooker was sent off by referee Craig Maxwell-Keys for the punch during the first half of last week's Premiership fixture between Saracens and Gloucester.
The charge against him was heard on Tuesday evening and the suspension means he will be available for selection again from March 15 - in time for Saracens' visit to Leicester Tigers on Sunday, March 20.
Brits, 34, punched Wood, leaving the prop concussed and unable to continue, after reacting angrily to being awkwardly pushed over.
He was defended at the hearing by Saracens' director of rugby Mark McCall, who after the match told reporters: "There are no complaints about the ref's decision, it was a red card.
"But if you look at the incident, Schalk's knee was trapped underneath and I think he's frightened and trying to get him off him as quickly as he can. He did his ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) last September and there was an element of fear involved."
Saracens eventually won 25-12 and retained a four-point lead over Exeter at the top of the Premiership.
The ban means Schalk will miss three Premiership games - against Sale (away) on Saturday, Northampton (h) a week later and bottom-placed London Irish (a).
