Tipoki suspended for 3 weeks for striking

Blues midfield back Rua Tipoki has been suspended from all rugby for three weeks after striking Stormers' Jean de Villiers in their Super 12 match in Cape Town on Sunday (NZT).

A judicial hearing in Johannesburg last night found Tipoki guilty of striking an opponent.

There wasn't anything the Blues could do about the suspension, coach Peter Sloane said.

Tipoki's punch opened a large cut under de Villiers' eye.

The hearing was chaired by Johannesburg attorney Boela Van Der Merwe with Piet Niemann and Max Baer as the other members of the judiciary.

Tipoko was suspended for three weeks until May 16, meaning he will miss the remaining round-robin games in the competition which has complicated the Blues midfield combination.

The injured Ben Atiga is returning home and is being replaced by Wellington's sevens star Tamati Ellison, picked from the draft.

The Blues are fourth in the competition after beating the Stormers 37-24 and will play the improving Bulls in Pretoria this Sunday.

- NZPA