South African prop forward Brian Mujati has been banned for six weeks, after pushing referee Nigel Owens in the back during  Northampton's Heineken Cup defeat at the hands of Perpignan in France last month.

Mujati was cited after the incident and the independent judicial officer, Rod McKenzie, ruled on Monday that the player had been guilty of an act contrary to good sportsmanship.

McKenzie however determined the offence was low-end in terms of its seriousness and accepted there were "compelling and exceptional mitigating factors" in that Mujati was suffering from concussion at the time of the incident.

Barring a successful appeal, Mujati will not be allowed to play until December 2, meaning he will miss four matches for Northampton.

Mujati's disciplinary hearing , which began in Dublin on Thursday, October 22, reconvened in Glasgow on Monday.

The judicial officer, McKenzie, adjourned the initial hearing to allow additional evidence to be heard with regard to the determination of the appropriate sanction.

"After considering the player's guilty plea and other evidence, the judicial officer found that Mujati was guilty of an act contrary to good sportsmanship in contravention of Law 10.4 (l) in that he had physically abused the match referee," a statement by European Rugby Cup (ERC) said.

"The judicial officer determined that the incident was at the low-end in the level of seriousness for an offence of Physical Abuse of a Match Official.

"When considering the appropriate sanction for the offence, the judicial officer determined that there were no aggravating factors and that there were compelling and exceptional mitigating factors as the player was shown to have been suffering from concussion when the offence occurred.

"McKenzie determined a 75 percent  reduction from the recommended entry point for the low-end offence of its type and suspended the player for a period of six weeks, up to and including Wednesday, December 2."

Under IRB Regulation 17 and the ERC Heineken Cup Disciplinary Rules, the recommended sanction entry point for a low-end offence of Physical Abuse of a Match Official is 24 weeks. Aggravating and mitigating factors can lead to an increase or decrease on the recommended entry point sanction.

Both parties have the right to appeal.

365

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