Heineken Cup: Scarlets' prop Samson Lee banned for two weeks

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Samson Lee takes on HarlequinsImage source, Huw Evans picture agency

Scarlets tight-head prop Samson Lee has been banned for two weeks following the incident that led to his sin-binning in their 33-26 win at Harlequins last weekend.

Lee's boot struck Quins scrum-half Danny Care's face at a ruck.

Uncapped 20-year-old Lee was banned until Monday, 28 October.

That rules him out of the Scarlets' Heineken Cup clash against Racing Metro on Saturday and the 25 October Pro12 clash at Zebre.

French citing commissioner Jean-Claude Legendre referred the incident to the competition's disciplinary officials.

Irish referee John Lacey sin-binned Lee and the player's case was considered by Scottish judicial officer Rod McKenzie.

McKenzie determined Lee was going for the ball, but in doing so, the player's boot "made contact with Care's face in a reckless manner, and that in his opinion, the offence warranted a red card".

An ERC statement read: "He [McKenzie] found that the act was at the low-end entry point of the IRB's [International Rugby Board's] sanctioning regime [two weeks] and although there were no aggravating factors, and although Lee had a clean record, the player had pleaded not guilty and therefore, no mitigation was possible in this case."

The IRB recommended minimum sanctions for foul play are two weeks for a low range offence, five weeks for a mid range, and nine to 52 weeks for a high end.

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