Sharks prop Brent Moyle and Cats centre Japie Mulder were suspended for six weeks each Monday night after incidents in weekend Super 12 matches.

Cats centre Japie Mulder was on Monday night found guilty and banned for two matches for the illegal tackle which left Stormers midfielder De Wet Barry with a broken cheekbone.

Mulder was found guilty of transgressing Law 10(4)(f) - that he tackled an opponent without the ball - and suspended for six weeks, although four weeks of his sentence are suspended until the end of the Super 12 series.

The incident, which took place during the ill-tempered match at Newlands on Saturday, means Mulder will miss the games against the Highlanders and Brumbies.

Stormers coach Alan Solomons expressed his disappointment with the sentence, saying the Cats centre got off lightly. "De Wet Barry is out for six weeks and Japie Mulder for two," he told the Cape Times. "From what I saw on the video there was no doubt it was a premeditated and malicious act that deserved a substantial sanctioning."

The injured Barry was also unhappy with the two-match ban, saying it was the second time Mulder has put him in hospital. "I think it will leave a bitter taste in the mouth if this has to go any further, and it won't be good for South African rugby.

"Japie and I may have to play together in the future. I just find it disappointing, as it's the second time he's done this to me. He also took me high without the ball in our Currie Cup match at Ellis Park last year and I suffered concussion."

Meanwhile, Sharks tighthead Brent Moyle was found guilty of headbutting an opponent in the Super 12 match between the Sharks and Bulls in Durban on Friday.

The big prop was suspended for six weeks of which three are suspended until the end of the Super 12 series. Moyle will effectively miss three matches, including those against the Brumbies, Highlanders and Hurricanes.