Blues skipper Dalton Papali’i has been suspended for three weeks for his dangerous tackle on Richie Mo’unga in his side’s 15-3 loss to the Crusaders last weekend.

The All Black flanker went in to tackle the fly-half in the 43rd minute but got it wrong and ended up being high. He was initially yellow carded but that was updated to a red card by the TMO.

No hard feelings

Mo’unga, who is team-mates with Papali’i at Test level, revealed that there are no hard feelings after the tackle and that it is nothing personal, just part of the game.

“Oh yeah, we’re good mates, even when it happened,” Mo’unga said.

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“That’s footy, nothing personal. Just went a bit high.”

The SANZAAR Foul Play Review Committee concluded that the tackle had contravened Law 9.13: A player must not tackle an opponent early, late or dangerously.

The result is a three-week ban until June 2 meaning the star will miss the last three regular-season clashes against the Reds, Hurricanes and Highlanders.

The influential captain will return when Super Rugby Pacific enters its play-offs stage with the Blues, who made last season’s final almost guaranteed a spot in the top eight. Their current fight is to secure a home quarter-final.

“Reckless”

Michael Heron, the chairman of the Four Play Review Committee unpacked the details of the ban.

“With respect to sanction, the Foul Play Review Committee held the act of foul play was reckless, with direct head contact and no significant mitigating factors present,” Heron said.

“The FPRC found the incident was dangerous and after considering the relevant factors decided the foul play merited a mid-range entry point of six weeks.

“Taking into account mitigating factors, including the player’s exemplary record and guilty plea, the judicial committee reduced the suspension by three weeks.”