It happened in the 72nd minute when Tameifuna, while defending the line, pushed Jackson out of the way. Jackson was knocked off his feet but not injured.
At the three-hour hearing in Auckland, judicial officer Chris Morris heard evidence from Tameifuna, Chiefs coach Dave Rennie, the Waikato coaching and management team and match officials, including Jackson, and viewed video footage.
Morris noted that Tameifuna had apologised to Jackson immediately after the game and this was accepted. Morris acknowledged the player was genuinely remorseful and had accepted that his actions were inexcusable.
He also accepted the player's statement that he was focused on defending the tryline and that moving the referee away from that line was an instinctive move that was motivated by playing the game, rather than by malicious intent. He also took into account that Jackson had not taken issue with the incident and he did not believe the push to be maliciously intended.
"Having taking into account the evidence, the player's post-match apology to the referee, his full acknowledgment that his actions were inappropriate, I have endeavoured to impose a proportionate sanction taking into account other similar situations from overseas decisions," Morris said.
"However, it is imperative that players instinctively know that it is never, under any circumstances, appropriate for a player to abuse, verbally or physically, a match official.
"Taking all those factors into account, I find that a suspension of five weeks is appropriate and proportionate to the offending. Ben Tameifuna is banned immediately from all rugby up to and including October 5."
