Rugby: Nonu cops one-week suspension

Hurricanes player Ma'a Nonu arrives at his Judicial Hearing at the NZRU offices in Wellington....
Hurricanes player Ma'a Nonu arrives at his Judicial Hearing at the NZRU offices in Wellington. Photo by NZPA.
Hurricanes second five-eighth Ma'a Nonu has been banned for one week after a two-hour Sanzar judicial hearing found him guilty of a dangerous charge on Highlanders halfback Jimmy Cowan.Nonu was yellow-carded for the offence in the Hurricanes' 14-9 loss to the Highlanders on Friday night and was sent off after earlier being sinbinned for a professional foul.

He will miss the Hurricanes' match against the Crusaders in Wellington on Saturday, which was to be his 100th Super rugby match for the franchise.

Cowan sent a letter to Sanzar in support of Nonu, which aided the All Blacks midfield back's case.

Nonu is no stranger to the Sanzar judiciary.

In 2005 he was suspended for a week for a dangerous tackle against the Sharks and copped the same punishment for the same offence three years later. On that occasion he had been yellow-carded for a high tackle on the Highlanders' Clint Newland.

Last March he was cleared of making a reckless tackle on Stormers first five-eighth Peter Grant in the Hurricanes' 37-13 loss at Cape Town.

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