Brumbies winger Chance Peni has been slammed with a six-game suspension after being cited in his first match back from another lengthy ban.
The former Western Force player was rubbed out for the third time in a year after being found guilty of a lifting tackle playing in a club rugby game in Canberra.
It was Peni’s first game at any level since being suspended for five weeks for a dangerous tackle in a Super Rugby match against the Crusaders in April.
He missed four Super Rugby games and an exhibition match in Japan during his period on the sidelines, but this latest ban means his season is over.
Peni was also suspended last year for a dangerous tackle while playing for the Force.
The 24-year-old told Fairfax Media last week he had been working hard to change his tackling technique, making adjustments after switching codes.
“Coming from rugby league, I was always told to hit a bit higher and try to slow them down,” Peni said.
“But I’ve got to learn I’m not playing rugby league any more and I’ve got to get that contact lower.”
His absence is a blow for the Brumbies as they look to pull off a miracle run at the finals.
They will need to win their remaining three games to be any chance of qualifying for the post-season but also hoping that other results in the Australian conference go their way.
It starts at home this Saturday night against the Hurricanes, who sit second in the New Zealand conference with a 10-3 record.
Brumbies co-captain Sam Carter says his team isn’t focusing on finals, but they are determined to upset the Wellington-based franchise.
“The last time we played them (Hurricanes) at home we went down in a final last year so you don’t need any extra motivation to get up for a game,” Carter said on Tuesday.
The Brumbies will welcome back David Pocock, Scott Sio, Joe Powell, Rory Arnold, Folau Fainga’a and Tom Banks.
But prop Allan Alaalatoa is facing a test to play after a training incident ruled him out of Wallabies duties.