James Haskell suspended for three games
England backrower James Haskell has been suspended for three matches for punching an opponent during a Super 15 rugby match between his Otago Highlanders and South Africa's Cheetahs.
Haskell received a yellow card for the incident in Saturday's match at Bloemfontein in which the Highlanders rallied from 30-9 down to win 36-33.
At a judicial hearing Haskell pleaded guilty to striking his Cheetahs opposite Justin Downey and was handed a three-match suspension by judical officer Mike Heron. He will miss the Highlanders' matches against the Sharks in Durban, the Wellington Hurricanes and Pretoria-based Bulls.
Downey received stitches in a cut above one eye.
