South Africa will be without Jasper Wiese for their two Tests against Ireland after the forward was suspended for six matches.
The 28-year-old back row was sent off while playing for Leicester Tigers against Exeter for "lifting another player off the ground and dropping or driving the player so that their head and/or upper body makes contact with the ground".
Wiese, who was playing his final game of a four-season spell in England before a move to Japan, admitted the charge and accepted a six-match ban, which covers the Springboks Tests against Andy Farrell's side on 6 and 13 July, in Pretoria and Durban, respectively.
It is a fourth red card in six seasons for Wiese (below), which meant he was not entitled to full mitigation credit.
His suspension comes on the day he was named in the English Premiership team of the season.
Wiese will also miss South Africa's 22 June Test against Wales in London, the highly anticipated two-match home series versus Ireland and a one-off fixture with Portugal.
He is also suspended for the Springboks' first two games of the Rugby Championship, both away in Australia.
It leaves South Africa coach Rassie Erasmus with limited options at number 8 following the retirement of Duane Vermeulen after last year's World Cup triumph in France.
Options include the less experienced Evan Roos and Elrigh Louw, and uncapped Cameron Hanekom, who have all been touted as future Springbok regulars but have five international appearances between them.
Full-back Damian Willemse was ruled out of the series with a finger injury yesterday.
Ireland and Leinster full-back Hugo Keenan also looks set to miss out on the series after reports yesterday that the 27-year-old will turn his attention to Ireland Sevens after Saturday’s Investec Champions Cup final against Toulouse (2.45pm, live on RTÉ).
Watch Leinster v Toulouse in the Investec Champions Cup final on Saturday from 2pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player, follow a live blog on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app and listen to commentary on Saturday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1
Additional report: Reuters
