Thomas du Toit will sit out the Sharks’ European Champions Cup debut after being handed a six-week ban, reduced to three, for his red card in the Springboks’ win over England.
The Bok tighthead prop was sent off after making contact with the head of England hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie at Twickenham.
He will now miss the Sharks’ first Champions Cup matches against the English Premiership’s Harlequins (10 December) and Top 14 team Bordeaux-Begles (16 December).
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Du Toit is also ruled out of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship clash between the Sharks and Ospreys at Kings Park on Friday.
Neil Powell, who has been installed as the head coach of the Sharks for the rest of the season following Sean Everitt’s sacking, was set to name the team on Thursday.
In a separate case, France captain Antoine Dupont is free to play for his club Toulouse in the French top-flight this weekend after the scrumhalf won his appeal against a four-week suspension for his red card in the win over South Africa.
Dupont was sent off for a dangerous tackle on Bok wing Cheslin Kolbe in the 30-26 victory over the world champions on 12 November.
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Photo: Steve Haag/Gallo Images
