Bath's Danny Grewcock trudges from the field after being sent off against Ulster © Getty Images

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Bath lock Danny Grewcock has been suspended for seven weeks after being found guilty of stamping on Ulster flanker Stephen Ferris in last weekend's Heineken Cup tie at The Rec.

Grewcock was sent off in the 32nd minute of Bath's defeat after referee Jerome Garces saw the former England international stamp on Ferris' arm. Independent judicial officer Jean-Noel Courard suspended Grewcock until March 13 after determining he was guilty of foul play at a disciplinary hearing in Dublin.

The standard suspension for a mid-range offence is five weeks but Grewcock was hit with an extra fortnight due to his poor disciplinary record. Grewcock is no stranger to disciplinary hearings. He missed the 2007 Rugby World Cup after being suspended for six weeks for punching French lock Thibault Privat.

Tonight's verdict is yet another blow for Bath's troubled season, with Grewcock set to miss six matches, including Guinness Premiership fixtures against London Irish, Worcester, Saracens and Newcastle.

Earlier today, London Irish No.8 Chris Hala'ufia was banned for four weeks after pleading guilty to striking Leinster captain Leo Cullen. Hala'ufia, the Tongan international, was cited following last Saturday's 11-11 draw at Twickenham, a result which ended the Exiles' Heineken Cup campaign. The independent judicial officer Jean-Noel Couraud took into account Hala'ufia's admittance of guilty before banning him until February 25.

Grewcock's seven-week ban is the latest in a long line of misdemeanours. Here are some of Grewcock's run-ins with authority:

June 20, 1998: Sent off during England's 64-22 defeat against New Zealand in Dunedin for alleged use of the boot when a scrum collapsed. Five-week ban.

September 8, 2002: Sent off in his second Premiership game as Bath captain for alleged use of the boot against his former club Saracens at Vicarage Road. Five-week ban subsequently overturned on appeal.

May 25, 2003: Sent off for punching Lawrence Dallaglio in Parker Pen Shield final. Two-week ban. Suspension cost him a place on England's summer tour to New Zealand and Australia.

June 19, 2004: Cited for stamping during England's second Test defeat against New Zealand in Auckland. Banned for six weeks.

February 2, 2005: Cleared by the Rugby Football Union to play for England in Six Nations opener against Wales having appeared to stamp on Lawrence Dallaglio during a Premiership match against Wasps.

February 5, 2005: Sin-binned for use of the boot in England's 11-9 defeat to Wales at the Millennium Stadium.

June 25, 2005: Cited for allegedly biting New Zealand hooker Keven Mealamu 63 minutes into the Lions' 21-3 first Test defeat. Banned for two months.

May 22, 2007: Cited for allegedly punching Thibault Privat in Bath's European Challenge Cup final defeat to Clermont Auvergne. Banned for six weeks, covering England's three August Tests and the first two World Cup matches.

January 23, 2010: Sent off for stamping on Ulster flanker Stephen Ferris in a 28-10 Heineken Cup defeat. Banned for seven weeks.

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