Tolofua gets six weeks

France and Toulouse will have to make do without hooker Christopher Tolofua after he received a six-week ban on Thursday.

Tolofua pleaded guilty to making a dangerous tackle on Treviso replacement Fabio Semenzato in Saturday’s European Cup fixture at the Stadio Comunale di Monigo, which saw him being red-carded.

Judicial Officer Roger Morris (Wales) heard evidence and submissions by video conference from Tolofua, Toulouse Director of Rugby, Guy Novès, and Toulouse President, René Bouscatel. Submissions were also heard from ERC Disciplinary Officer, Roger O’Connor.

The Judicial Officer upheld the citing complaint and found that Tolofua had carried out a dangerous tackle on his opponent. Employing the IRB recommended sanctions for Law 10.4(j), he determined that the offence was at the mid-range entry point of eight weeks.

In line with the current IRB deterrent regarding dangerous tackles, Morris added a further two weeks. He then considered Tolofua’s clean disciplinary record, his youth and inexperience and decided in mitigation to reduce the suspension by four weeks – 50 percent of the eight-week entry point – before imposing a suspension of six weeks.

Tolofua will be free to play on Monday, December 3, 2012. Both ERC and the player have the right to appeal the decision.