New Zealand hooker Keven Mealamu’s suspension is reduced
New Zealand hooker Keven Mealamu has had his suspension reduced from four weeks to two weeks, after the All Blacks lodged an appeal with the International Rugby Board.
Mealamu was handed down a four week suspension following New Zealand’s 16-26 win over England at Twickenham on Saturday 6 November.
The player was cited by the Citing Commissioner, John West and was found guilty of deliberately striking England captain Lewis Moody with his head by judicial IRB Judicial Officer Lorne Crerar.
However, after New Zealand lodged an appeal an IRB appeal committee reduced the severity of the ban. The committee was chaired by South African Peter Ingwerson on Friday 12 November.
The independent IRB committee issued a statement that read, "Although they upheld the original decision that there had been an act of foul play, having had the opportunity to review the video footage, the appeal committee concluded that the act was not intentional
and that it merited a lower end entry point in the IRB list of sanctions, namely four weeks."
Mealamu would have started the All Blacks Test match against Scotland at Murrayfield on Saturday 13 November, if the appeal had been successful.
Hickawera Elliot will now make his debut for New Zealand. The player was on stand-by to take Mealamu’s position if the appeal was not lifted.
Mealamu revealed his disappointment to reporters and said, "I'm gutted to be honest, really disappointed. I don't feel the outcome shows what sort of person I am. I do take it personally. I'm not that sort of person."
New Zealand will not be happy the ban was only reduced to two weeks, as the hooker will now only return to action in the last Test against Wales on Saturday 27 November.
Elliot is also expected to start the match against Ireland in Dublin on Saturday 20 November.
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