England Lock Joe Launchbury Handed Ban For Kicking Opponent In Fiji Game
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England lock Joe Launchbury has been banned for two weeks for kicking an opponent during his side’s victory over Fiji.
The ban will rule him out of England’s remaining autumn internationals. The incident occurred when Launchbury tried to kick the ball away at the base of a ruck but made contact with Fiji centre Asaeli Tikoirotuma.
The ban rules him out of England’s Tests against Argentina and Australia. Launchbury accepted the act, missed by the officials, warranted a red card.
The kick was deemed reckless rather than intentional by an independent disciplinary committee, resulting in what would have been a four-week suspension.
However, this was reduced to two weeks because of mitigating factors, including the Wasps forward’s guilty plea, his previous clean record and good conduct at the hearing.
