Taine Basham banned following 'cheap shot' on Ross Byrne

Dragons flanker Taine Basham has been suspended for four games following his red card in Sunday's BKT United Rugby Championship defeat to Leinster.

The Wales international was sent off after 65 minutes of the 33-10 loss to the Irish province in Newport.

Basham was given a straight red card by referee Gianluca Gnecchi for a dangerous elbow to the head of Leinster out-half Ross Byrne, and appeared before an independent disciplinary committee this week.

The 24-year-old accepted the red card decision, with the judicial officer Roddy MacLeod determining it warranted a mid-range entry point of a six-week suspension.

However, Basham received two weeks mitigation due to his remorse, apology and engagement in the disciplinary process - which results in a four-game ban. He will miss the Dragons' meeting with the Ospreys on Saturday, both matches of their South African against the Sharks and Lions, as well as their Challenge Cup opener against Oyonnax.

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Speaking on commentary on RTÉ1 (above) last Sunday, Donal Lenihan described the challenge as a "cheap shot", while Dragons head coach Dai Flanagan was also critical of his player.

"It was very silly from Taine. He wants to be a top-end player, but that wasn't good enough and top-end players don't do things like that," said Flanagan.

"Emotion and anger gets the better of people but it's hard to defend him after an action like that.

"We know that he's better than that and we have to help him through this."

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