Sale Sharks forward Kristian Ormsby will miss his club's Heineken Cup showdown with European champions Munster on Sunday.

The 6ft 4in New Zealander has received a one-week suspension after appearing before a disciplinary panel in Dublin today. Ormby was cited by match commissioner Achille Reali for alleged striking/dangerous charge on Clermont Auvergne lock Julien Pierre during Sharks' impressive Pool One victory in France last weekend.

The panel decided that Ormsby, a lock or back-row forward, was not guilty of striking, but that he committed a dangerous charge on Pierre. His ban runs up until next Wednesday, sidelining him for the Edgeley Park appointment with Munster.

Ormsby, who has the right of appeal, was summoned before a disciplinary committee chaired by Ireland's Mark McParland, assisted by Rob Flockhart (Scotland) and Simon Thomas (Wales).

Ormsby's club colleague Rudi Keil, a try-scoring substitute against Clermont, avoided suspension after being cited for alleged striking/dangerous tackle in the same game.

Keil's alleged offence was on Clermont centre Benoit Baby, but the disciplinary panel ruled he was not guilty of striking. They concluded he did commit a dangerous tackle but found the offence did not warrant a red card - and therefore they did not impose a period of suspension.

In addition, Montpellier's former All Blacks scrum-half Justin Marshall also escaped punishment after being cited for an alleged dangerous tackle on Bristol wing Tom Arscott.

After considering the evidence available, the independent Disciplinary Committee determined that Marshall was not guilty of foul play and therefore dismissed the citing.

Montpellier continue their Challenge Cup campaign on Saturday night when they face Northampton at Franklin's Gardens.

Marshall's former All Blacks colleague Byron Kelleher had a citing for alleged stamping dismissed.

Toulouse scrum-half Kelleher was charged following last Sunday's narrow Heineken Cup win against Bath. He was reported by the match commissioner, Welshman Ray Wilton, for allegedly stamping on Bath's South African scrum-half Butch James.

But a disciplinary panel in Dublin decided Kelleher was not guilty. He has been selected to start tomorrow night's Pool Five game against Glasgow at Firhill.