All Black Ma’a Nonu will not play Super Rugby again this season after he was banned for three weeks following his sending-off in the Highlanders’ loss to the Crusaders.
Nonu was red-carded by referee Steve Walsh for a tip tackle on Tom Marshall in the 42-12 defeat in Dunedin on Friday.
He entered a guilty plea and judicial officer Jannie Lubbe said in his assessment that Nonu accepted the tackle was poorly executed, and his guilty plea and remorse led to the standard ban period being reduced by one week.
Marshall was not injured in the tackle.
The 31-year-old was also yellow-carded after the match for a dangerous tackle on All Blacks’ teammate Dan Carter.
The ban rules Nonu out of the Highlanders’ last two fixtures this season – against the Hurricanes on Saturday and against the Melbourne Rebels six days later.