WP Nel: Edinburgh prop to miss Challenge Cup clash with Bath after receiving three-week ban

Edinburgh front-row WP Nel has has received a three-week ban following a foul play incident in his team’s Challenge Cup group-stage win against Pau last Friday.

Nel was cited for striking the head of Teo Bordenave early in the second half of his side’s 54-5 triumph, in contravention of Law 9.12 which says “a player must not punch or strike with hand, arm, elbow or shoulder”.

An independent disciplinary hearing was held on Wednesday and the committee upheld the citing complaint, finding that Nel had struck Bordenave’s head with his shoulder.

It was determined that the offence was at the mid-range of World Rugby’s sanctions and six weeks was selected as the appropriate punishment.

However, a full 50 per cent mitigation was issued on the basis that the Nel had a clear disciplinary record and he accepted that he had committed an act of foul play.

The committee subsequently reduced the sanction by three weeks before imposing the three-week ban.

Nel’s suspension is until May 2, which would rule him out of Edinburgh‘s Challenge Cup last-16 match against Bath on Saturday and the United Rugby Championship matches against Zebre Parma and Ulster.

If he applies for and completes a World Rugby coaching intervention, however, he will be free to play from April 25, which would allow him to play against Ulster.

READ MORE: Challenge Cup: Edinburgh and Saracens cruise past Pau and Brive