Saracens prop forward Rhys Gill has been banned for three weeks following a dangerous tackle in his side’s 29-23 defeat to Harlequins on the weekend.
Gill, 29, was a substitute for Saracens in their recent defeat at the Stoop on Saturday and was given a red card in less than five minutes of being on the pitch by referee Craig Maxwell-Keys for a dangerous tip-tackle on centre George Lowe.
Originally Gill was only given a yellow card, but when the referee took another few looks at the tackle, he instead decided that Gill would play no further part in the contest and that Saracens would finish the game with 14 men on the field.
The Saracens star pleaded guilty to the charge of dangerous tackling contrary to Law 10.4(J). This means that he will receive a three-week suspension and has to pay a fine of £500 towards the hearing costs.
He is free to play again on February 2nd. This has now put a near certain end to any hopes that Gill may have had of making Warren Gatland’s Wales Six Nations squad which is due to be announced next week, after putting in some very solid set piece performances for the Londoners.
The six-time capped Wales international will be leaving Saracens at the end of the season and will be heading back to his home country to play for the Cardiff Blues next season.
