Connacht will be without their skipper Jarrad Butler for their Challenge Cup last 16 tie against Leicester Tigers - and either a European quarter-final or the first round of the PRO14 Rainbow Cup, if it happens.
Butler has picked up a ban for the next three 'meaningful' games as a result of his sending off in the PRO14 clash with Edinburgh last Saturday, and he will miss Monday's final regular season game at Scarlets on Monday night.
The westerners' flanker was red carded by referee Chris Busby (IRFU) under Law 9.13 – a player must not tackle an opponent early, late or dangerously.
In a disciplinary hearing it was ruled that the offence was a mid-range one, which carries a six-week suspension.
Having considered the match footage, injury details, Butler’s disciplinary record and expression of remorse, a reduction of three weeks was applied by the judicial officer.
But Butler is still suspended from participating in the next three meaningful matches.
Should a game be cancelled or postponed during this window of games, Butler and PRO14 are to submit updated fixtures to the disciplinary panel so the return date can be advised.
Butler's missing games
- Guinness PRO14 Round 16 Scarlets v Connacht (Monday, March 22, 2021)
- EPCR Challenge Cup Leicester v Connacht Rugby (Friday, April 2, 2021) and Connacht “A” Rugby v TBC
- EPCR Challenge Cup QF Connacht v TBC (April 9/10/11, 2021) or Guinness PRO14 Rainbow Cup Round 1
