Lions flanker Rhodes banned for six matches

Lions flanker Michael Rhodes was suspended from rugby for six matches on Tuesday after being found guilty of a dangerous tackle on Otago Highlanders winger Siale Piutau.

Piutau was found guilty of foul play for punching Rhodes after the tackle, but escaped punishment after the Sanzar (South Africa, New Zealand and Australia Rugby) judiciary ruled he responded to “exceptional circumstances”.

Sanzar judicial officer Nick Davidson found Rhodes flipped Piutau over during the Lions’ 26-22 win in Dunedin on Saturday, “placing his head and neck at serious risk of injury”.

Davidson banned Rhodes until July 31, sidelining him for the rest of the Super 15 season and the opening matches of the Currie Cup.

He decided against punishing Piutau, finding the winger’s reaction to the tackle “was the product of shock, rather than retaliatory intent”.

Sanzar has clamped down this season on so-called “tip tackles”, where the opposing player is speared into the ground head first, saying the danger they create is “immense”.

Wellington Hurricanes halfback Tyson Keats was suspended for four weeks earlier this month for a similar tackle on his Auckland Blues counterpart, Alby Mathewson.—AFP