However, the ban may well be lowered to a fortnight if the participant completes a training direction.
Nel will unquestionably omit the Challenge Cup last-16 tie in opposition to Bath this Saturday and the sport in opposition to Zebre within the United Rugby Championship on April 22.
But if he applies for and completes a World Rugby Coaching Intervention, he’ll be unfastened to play from Monday, April 25. That would imply he could be to be had for the URC fit in opposition to Ulster on April 30.
Nel, who got here on as a first-half substitute within the 54-5 win in opposition to Pau, used to be cited by way of the fit bringing up commissioner Dana Teagarden of Germany for hanging the top of Bordenave, within the forty second minute, in contravention of Law 9.12.
The legislation states a participant will have to no longer punch or strike with hand, arm, elbow or shoulder. Under World Rugby’s Sanctions for Foul Play, Law 9.12 carries the next price lists – Low End: two weeks; Mid-range: six weeks; Top finish: 10 to 52 weeks.
An unbiased disciplinary committee chaired by way of Simon Thomas of Wales and likewise comprising Donal Courtney (Ireland) and Martyn Wood (England), heard submissions from Nel, who authorized the price, from the participant’s criminal consultant, Bruce Caldow, from the Edinburgh Rugby crew supervisor, Matt Cornwell, and from the EPCR disciplinary officer, Liam McTiernan.
The committee upheld the bringing up criticism, discovering that Nel had struck Bordenave’s head along with his shoulder and made up our minds that the offence used to be on the mid-range of World Rugby’s sanctions and 6 weeks used to be decided on as the best access level.
But at the foundation that the participant authorized that he had dedicated an act of foul play and had a transparent disciplinary document, it used to be determined to chop the ban in 1/2 and impose a three-week suspension.
Both the participant and European Professional Club Rugby have the precise to attraction the verdict.