Heineken Cup
Hape banned for four weeks
ESPNscrum Staff
November 17, 2011
London Irish's Shontayne Hape is shown a yellow card, London Irish v Edinburgh, Heineken Cup, Madejski Stadium, Reading, England, November 12, 2011
Hape was sin-binned during the second half of the clash with Edinburgh © Getty Images
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Players/Officials: Sean Cox | Shontayne Hape | David Marty
Tournaments/Tours: Heineken Cup

London Irish have been rocked by the news that centre Shontayne Hape has been hit with a four-week suspension for a dangerous tackle during Saturday's Heineken Cup defeat by Edinburgh.

The England international was cited for a high challenge on David Denton during the first half of the game at the Madjeski Stadium which resulted in the flanker being forced off through injury.

After being summoned to a disciplinary hearing on Thursday, Hape pleaded guilty to foul play. The panel ruled that the challenge was in the mid-range level of seriousness for an offence of this type, which has an entry point of six weeks. Another week was added to the ban because of "aggravating factors", but the sentence was by the maximum 50 per cent after "mitigating factors" were taken into account.

As sentences are rounded up to full weeks, the player is now banned for four weeks, meaning he cannot return to action until December 15. Consequently, Hape will miss his club's Heineken Cup clash with Cardiff Blues on Friday night as well as their meeting with Racing Metro in Colombes on December 10. The New Zealand-born midfielder will also sit out the Exiles' upcoming Aviva Premiership clashes with London Wasps and Saracens.

The news of the suspension comes just hours after Edinburgh forward Sean Cox was hit with a one-week ban after admitting to striking Hape during the game in Reading.

Meanwhile, Perpignan centre David Marty has landed a four-week ban after pleading guilty to a dangerous tackle on Exeter Chiefs winger Gonzalo Camacho during last Friday's Amlin Challenge Cup clash at the Stade Aime Giral.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

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