Brumbies number eight Rob Valetini is set to be free to play in the Super Rugby Pacific opener after receiving a two-match ban for his high tackle against Wales.
The backrower was sent off in the 14th minute during the Wallabies' 29-28 defeat after collecting Wales lock Adam Beard in the head.
After appearing in front of the World Rugby's Disciplinary Committee, they deemed the incident to be worthy of the red card and reckless.
Despite one member of the committee suggesting it should be high range, which would see Valetini looking at a 10+ week ban, they eventually deemed it mid-range.
This sees the 24-year-old handed a six week ban, which will be reduced to two on account of his clean record and if he completes a Head Contact Process Coaching Intervention.
This will see Valetini miss their opening trials against the Waratahs and a Brumbies development side, however, allows him to face Moana Pasifika on February 18.
"The player admitted that he had committed an act of foul play worthy of a red card," the committee said in a statement.
"Having reviewed all the evidence, the committee deemed that the offending was reckless, and that he ran at speed in an upright position in an attempt to tackle Adam Beard, exhibiting poor tackle technique resulting in his head striking the right hand side of Adam Beard’s head (in breach of World Rugby’s Head Contract Process and Law 9.13) who was removed from the field of play. He failed his HIA & received 20 stitches in the area of his eyebrow.
"The Committee determined by a majority that after an assessment of the seriousness of the offending the actions merited a minimum mid-range entry point of 6 weeks (with one member determining the offending justified a top end entry point of 10+ weeks).
"On that basis, the committee applied World Rugby’s mandatory minimum mid-range entry point for foul play resulting in contact with the head. This resulted in a starting point of a six-week suspension.
"The Committee determined that all mitigating factors were present and the Player was entitled to a 50% reduction from the entry point, and accepting that there were no aggravating factors the committee reduced the six-week entry point by three weeks, resulting in a sanction of three weeks.
“The Player may apply to take part in the Coaching Intervention Programme to substitute the final match of his sanction for a coaching intervention aimed at modifying specific techniques and technical issues that contributed to the foul play."
