Martyn Williams has been banned for two weeks © Getty Images

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Players/Officials: Jamie Cudmore | Jonny Fa'amatuainu | Sam Tuitupou | Martyn Williams

Tournaments/Tours: Heineken Cup

Teams: Cardiff Blues | Clermont Auvergne | France | Ireland | Munster | Wales

Cardiff Blues flanker Martyn Williams has been banned for two weeks after being found guilty of striking Edinburgh fullback Chris Paterson with his knee during their Heineken Cup clash last weekend.

The 35-year-old faced an independent disciplinary hearing in Dublin on Wednesday after being cited for the offence during the Blues' 18-17 victory.

Williams pleaded guilty before being handed the minimum three-week suspension. Judicial Officer Antony Davies then reduced the ban by a week given the flanker's good disciplinary record.

The news will be greeted with relief in the Wales camp as early speculation had suggested that a heavy suspension could rule Williams out of November Tests against Australia, South Africa, Fiji and New Zealand. He will now miss the Blues' meeting with Castres on Friday as well as their Magners League derby against the Scarlets on October 22.

Clermont Auvergne were less fortunate and saw Jamie Cudmore banned for 10 weeks for stamping on Saracens flanker Jacques Burger.

The incident took place during their opening European win over Sarries at the Stade Marcel Michelin last weekend, with the judicial officer placing his offence at the top end of the scale. After taking into account the Canadian lock's poor disciplinary record he handed down a 10-week ban, meaning that he will be out of action until December 20.

Munster centre Sam Tuitupou will also miss their next European fixture after being banned for three weeks for a dangerous tackle on London Irish scrum-half Paul Hodgson. The former All Black was yellow-carded for the offence during Munster's loss to the Exiles at the Madejski Stadium last weekend but was forced to pay a heavier price after being cited. He will now miss their vital meeting with Toulon on Saturday as well as league fixtures against Benetton Treviso and Ulster.

And Scarlets' Jonny Fa'amatuainu has been banned for three weeks for a dangerous tackle on Perpignan wing Adrien Plante. Fa'amatuainu was deemed to have committed a mid-range offence, which carries a six-week penalty, but his guilty plea and good disciplinary record saw the ban halved.