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Rugby Union

Shark beached by six-week ban

08/02/2007

Sale Sharks full-back Daniel Larrechea has been banned from rugby for six weeks after being found guilty of "acts outside the bounds of good sportsmanship" by a Dublin-based disciplinary panel.

The incident occurred during the Premiership champions' 19-7 loss to Welsh side Ospreys in the Heienken Cup on January 20th.

Although the back escaped charges of leading with his head and spitting at an opponent, he was found guilty of making contact with the eye area of another player.

Sale imposed a three-week ban of their own on the Frenchman shortly after they had reviewed video footage of the match, but he will now not be back on the pitch until March 6th after his punishment imposed by the competition's organisers European Rugby Cup (ERC).

However, ERC have taken into account the club's swift action and backdated their suspension to take account of the games Larrechea has already sat out.

The flare-up is the only blemish on an 11-year playing record with Bayonne and Sale during which the 29-year-old has never even been booked by a referee.

Larrechea's compatriot, Biarritz's David Couzinet, has been banned for the same period after being caught stamping during his side's visit to Northampton earlier this year.

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