Mark Tele'a tackles Tim Ryan during the Reds v Blues Super Rugby Pacific match. Photo: Patrick Hoelscher/ActionPress
Blues winger Mark Tele'a has been suspended for three Super Rugby Pacific matches for a tip tackle against the Reds on Friday.
It is a big blow for the Blues, as they will be without Tele'a for three of their last four regular season matches as they try to resurrect their season and make the playoffs.
Tele'a was initially given a yellow card after he picked up Reds winger Tim Ryan in a tip tackle 31 minutes into the game, with Ryan landing on his head.
He was initially given a yellow card, but it was upgraded to red on review.
Super Rugby Pacific's Foul Play Review Committee (FPRC) found Tele'a guilty of a lifting tackle in contravention of Law 9.18.
The committee determined "the low-range entry point of six weeks/matches" was appropriate for the incident.
"In light of the player accepting he committed an act of foul play as well as mitigating factors such as his prior disciplinary record, the FPRC applied the full 50 percent reduction in sanction.
Tele'a will miss matches against the Force this Friday, the Fijian Drua on 9 May and Moana Pasifika on 17 May.
He will be available to be selected against Waratahs on 31 May, which is the Blues' last match of the regular season. They have to win all four games to make the playoffs.
The 28-year-old has taken up a Japanese club contract, believed to be a three-year deal with Toyota Verblitz, coached by his former All Blacks mentor Ian Foster.
The move also puts the 19-test All Black's future for the national team in some doubt.
Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
