Heineken Champions Cup: Three-week ban for Scarlets' Kieron Fonotia

New Zealand-born Kieron Fonotia has made seven appearances for Samoa

Scarlets will be without centre Kieron Fonotia for their home Heineken Champions Cup opener against Racing 92 on Saturday.

The 30-year-old has been banned over a first-half incident in Scarlets' Pro14 win over his former team Ospreys last Saturday.

Fonotia was deemed guilty of striking George North's head with his forearm.

Scarlets coach Wayne Pivac had been hopeful of leniency for Samoa international Fonotia.

"It was just a reactionary thing. Gareth Davies was about to go over the sideline halfway and thrown the ball over his head," Pivac said before the verdict was announced.

"Kieron has caught the ball and George North has reacted. Kieron has seen him coming and gone out to fend him and caught him with a forearm.

"We have had a good look at it and... it was an instinctive reaction to fend a player away.

"It was 6ft 4in and 110kg coming towards him.

"It certainly was not intentional, but with these things now, the head is protected and if you come in contact with it you are going before the judicial."

The disciplinary committee decided the offence merited a six week suspension which was halved after considering Fonotia's previously clean disciplinary record and admission his actions warranted a red card.

Fonotia will also miss the European trip to face Leicester on 19 October and the trip to South Africa to play the Southern Kings seven days later. Fonotia is free to play again from 28 October.

Scarlets will be without another summer recruit against Racing on Saturday in Llanelli.

Number eight Uzair Cassiem is banned for making contact with a Southern Kings' rival's eye area in the Pro14 in September.