GLASGOW Warriors lock Tim Swinson will miss his team’s Champions Cup quarter-final on Sunday - and the semi-final should they reach it - after being given a four-week suspension by a PRO12 disciplinary panel yesterday.
The Scotland forward, who was sent off for dangerous play in his team’s match against Connacht last weekend, had hoped he would be cleared to play against cup-holders Saracens in the last eight. Glasgow coach Gregor Townsend suggested after his team’s win that what the referee, Ian Davies, might have seen as a punch on a Connacht player was actually an attempt to free the ball, raising hopes that Swinson would be dealt with leniently.
But, meeting in Neath, the three-man panel ruled that Davies had been correct to show Swinson a red card, and ruled that Swinson’s ban should run until Monday 24 April. The Champions Cup semis are the previous weekend, with Glasgow due to play theirs at Murrayfield if they beat Saracens.
“The Disciplinary Panel – Simon Thomas (chair), Richard Cole & Nigel Williams (all Wales) – found that the referee's decision to show the player a red card was not in error,” PRO12 announced. “The foul play merited a mid-range entry point, which carries a suspension of six weeks.
“There were no off-field aggravating factors, but after considering mitigating factors, the committee reduced the final suspension to four weeks. The ban was therefore reduced by two weeks leaving the player free to resume playing on Monday, April 24, 2017. He was reminded of his right to appeal.” The Warriors have yet to say whether an appeal will be made, but a slight reduction in the ban is probably the most they can hope for given the wording of the decision.
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