Blues winger George Moala will miss their Super Rugby match against the Hurricanes next week after being banned for one week for a dangerous tackle.

Powerful left winger Moala was cited for the tackle on Highlanders opposite Buxton Popoali’i soon after halftime during the 29-18 defeat of the Highlanders in Auckland on Friday.

The tackle around the shoulder/neck area resulted in Popoli’i being stretchered from Eden Park. He has concussion symptoms and is likely to be sidelined for a week, according to Highlanders management.

Referee Steve Walsh issued Moala with a yellow card but a citing commissioner deemed the incident had met the red card threshold for foul play.

A remorseful Moala admitted by teleconference that he was at fault and judicial officer Nicholas Davidson accepted his plea that there was no intentional foul play as Popoali’i had dropped his body position prior to the tackle.

Moala, 22, will be free to play after Saturday’s match against the Hurricanes at Eden Park.