Blues hooker Kurt Eklund has copped a three-week suspension for foul play during the Super Rugby Aotearoa loss to the Crusaders at Eden Park on Sunday.
In the 67th minute of his side's 43-27 loss, Eklund was penalised for a pro-wrestling style suplex on All Blacks wing Sevu Reece.
Upon reviewing the incident, SANZAAR's judiciary later admitted that the incident met the threshold for a red card.
The 29-year-old entered an early guilty plea, with the ban putting him out of action until the Blues' Round 9 rematch with the Crusaders in Christchurch on April 25.
The Blues have a scheduled bye in Round 7, which does not count as a week for sanctioning purposes.
The judiciary took into account Eklund's early guilty plea and lack of prior offences, which reduced the suspension from the standard six weeks for such 'mid-range' foul play offences.
Eklund had an otherwise strong performance off the bench for the Blues, scoring two of his team's four tries.
Blues prop Ofa Tu'ungafasi's punishment for his foul play charge - shoulder impact on Scott Barrett's head with an illegal ruck clean-out - is still under review.
The All Blacks front-rower has likely contested the charge and should discover his fate at a hearing on Tuesday evening.
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