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Ospreys back row Gareth Evans won’t be in action again until just before Christmas following his ban after the red card he picked up in last weekend’s comeback PRO14 win over Benetton in Swansea.
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Starting his second season in Wales after an eight-season Premiership stint with Gloucester, the 29-year-old was sent off in the 52 minutes with Ospreys trailing 10-14 in a match they won 24-22 with a converted 77th minute try from replacement hooker Dewi Lake.
Evans will miss Saturday’s PRO14 trip to Connacht as well as their European Challenge Cup games at home to Castres and away to Worcester.
A PRO14 statement read: “Gareth Evans of Ospreys has been banned for three weeks after a disciplinary process took place resulting from the red card he received during round seven of the Guinness PRO14.
“The player was shown a red card during the Ospreys’ game with Benetton on Sunday, November 22, at St Helen’s RFC in Swansea by referee Andrew Brace (IRFU) under law 9.20 (a) – a player must not charge into a ruck or maul. Charging includes any contact made without binding onto another player in the ruck or maul.
It looked like @BenettonRugby were going to claim their first win of the season, but 14-man @ospreys dug in and clinched a dramatic late comeback ?#GuinnessPRO14 highlights ?? pic.twitter.com/GxwVZhd9T6
— BKT United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial) November 22, 2020
“The disciplinary process for the red card offence was presided over by judicial officer Adv Sibonile Khoza (SARU). The player accepted that his actions were reckless and that the offence warranted a red card. The incident was deemed a mid-range offence, which carries a six-week suspension.
“The player’s previous clean disciplinary record, acceptance of his actions, co-operation and remorse shown warranted application of maximum (50 per cent) mitigation, bringing his ban to three weeks. The player will be free to play from midnight on December 19, 2020. The player was reminded of his right to appeal.”
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"When he sees a board member, they turn the other way and it becomes difficult. You start looking at shadows in the corners and start seeing meetings between people"#AutumnNationsCup #WALvENG ??????????????https://t.co/NpoKcdRPUs
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 27, 2020
