Biarritz hooker August gets four-week ban for Heaslip stamp

Leinster number eight suffered thigh injury in incident

Leinster’s Jamie Heaslip leaves the field with a wound to his leg during the Amlin Challenge Cup semi-final against  Biarritz  at the RDS. Photograph:   Stu Forster/Getty Images
Leinster’s Jamie Heaslip leaves the field with a wound to his leg during the Amlin Challenge Cup semi-final against Biarritz at the RDS. Photograph: Stu Forster/Getty Images

Biarritz hooker Benoit August has received a four-week ban after being cited for stamping on Ireland captain Jamie Heaslip.

August was reported following an incident that happened during Biarritz’s Amlin Challenge Cup semi-final defeat against Leinster last Saturday.

Tournament organisers said August did not attend a disciplinary hearing in Dublin today, and he was not represented.

Independent judicial officer Jeremy Summers found that August had stamped on Heaslip's thigh, and that the offence warranted a red card.

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The suspension takes in the closed season, covering an initial one-week period until May 5th, then a further three weeks from July 15th to August 5th.

Heaslip scored two tries against Biarritz before being substituted due to heavy bleeding from a leg wound. The injury sees him miss Leinster’s Pro12 clash with the Ospreys on Friday night.

Perpignan lock Dan Leo, meanwhile, was suspended for two weeks following his citing for stamping on Stade Francais forward Laurent Sempere, also in an Amlin semi-final.