New South Wales Waratahs lock Justin Harrison was late on Sunday banned for three Super 12 rugby matches for making a racial slur against a Golden Cats player in South Africa last week.
The penalty includes the match from which Harrison voluntarily stood down, against the Western Stormers on Saturday.
He was also fined $20 000 but will escape the monetary penalty if he completes an anti-discrimination course run by the anti-discrimination board of New South Wales, as well as 30 hours of community service.
Harrison last week admitted he made a racial slur at Golden Cats’ winger Chumani Booi during the Waratahs’ Super 12 game in Johannesburg on March 12.
Harrison said he accepted the decision, after speculation that the 30-year-old rugby international may have been rubbed out of the game for up to six months.
”Tonight I received a fair and just hearing in front of the Sanzar judicial committee. The sentence I have been given is fair and just,” Harrison said outside the tribunal room.
”I am profoundly sorry for what has happened over the last week of events and I will spend the rest of my life trying to make amends for a situation I am terribly apologetic for.”
Harrison received written letters of character from Booi and also several Wallaby team-mates.
His legal counsel, Rugby Union Players’ Association chairperson Tony Dempsey, said the suspension will cost the Wallaby second-rower $9 000 in match payments and $11 000 overall.
New South Wales Rugby Union chief executive Fraser Neill said his organisation will not consider any further sanction against Harrison.
The Australian international forward last week telephoned Booi to apologise for the remark and it was understood his apology was accepted.
In Harrison’s absence, the Waratahs remained unbeaten after four rounds of the Super 12 series with a 25-10 win over the Stormers.
Harrison is in his last season with the Waratahs before taking up a three-year deal with Ulster. — Sapa-AFP