Cheetahs centre Nico Lee will miss the rest of the Pro14 season after being handed a 13-week suspension for clearing his nose on an opposition player.
The 24-year-old appeared before a Pro14 disciplinary committee after being cited for an act of poor sportsmanship during the match against Connacht last weekend, which the Cheetahs lost 25-17.
Video evidence showed Lee appearing to clear the contents of his nose on Connacht flank Colby Fainga’a in the 64th minute of the game.
Lee was handed a top-end ban of 26 weeks, which was reduced by half due to an admission of facts and his good disciplinary record.
This will mean that Lee will sit out the rest of the Pro14 season, even should the Cheetahs make the playoffs, starting with their next match against the Scarlets in Llanelli on Sunday.
Cheetahs player Nico Lee banned for 13 weeks after he “accepted that he had cleared the contents of his nose onto the face of an opposing player.” pic.twitter.com/bpXRqT0L6l
— Murray Kinsella (@Murray_Kinsella) February 20, 2019
Nico Lee apologize @PRO14Officialhttps://t.co/E4BXi69qZU pic.twitter.com/mTnLpRsfgM
— Toyota Cheetahs (@CheetahsRugby) February 20, 2019
Photo: Harry Murphy/Sportsfile
