Blues player Rua Tipoki has been banned for 16 weeks for striking in the Super 14 game against the Western Force in Auckland last night.
Reported by citing commissioner Dave Gray for an incident early in the first half, Tipoki appeared before a Sanzar judicial committee in Auckland this morning.
He was accused of striking James Hilgendorf, who suffered a fracture of the eye socket, a laceration over the left eyebrow and concussion, in the sixth minute.
Committee chairman Bruce Squire QC said that, after hearing evidence from Tipoki and viewing video footage of the incident, the committee was satisfied that Tipoki had intentionally struck Hilgendorf, who suffered considerable injury.
The Force team doctor indicated the injuries might possibly leave some degree of permanent impairment, he said.
A statement from Sanzar said the committee considered that the offending was serious, that there was little to be said in Tipoki's favour by way of mitigation and noted that he had two previous appearances before the judiciary for striking offences.
The statement said: "Because of the nature of the offending, the significance of the injury to Hilgendorf and the absence of mitigating factors, the committee determined that Tipoki should be suspended for a period of 16 weeks.
"He was accordingly suspended from all rugby for the period up to and including August 7, 2006."
Centre Tipoki scored three tries in the Blues 39-8 win over the Force.
