Counties Manukau No 8 has been cited for an alleged dangerous tackle and will face a judicial hearing following his team’s Week 4 ITM Cup match against Auckland at Eden Park last night.

Lee was cited under law 10.4 (e) for an alleged dangerous tackle on Auckland openside flanker Sean Polwart in the third minute of the first half.

Auckland won the match 22 – 20.

Lee’s hearing will be heard by Judicial Officer Chris Morris by video conference tomorrow, Friday 6 September, at 10:00am.

Zac Judge and Jordan Manihera suspended

Meanwhile, North Harbour players Zac Judge and Jordan Manihera have both received suspensions following judicial hearings after separate incidents in their Week 3 match against Northland last weekend.

Judge was ordered off the field after a lifting tackle on Northland’s captain Rene Ranger.  In hearing the case, Judicial Officer Nick Davidson QC took into account Judge’s early admission of a careless but not intentional dangerous tackle.  He also took into account Judge’s character as a player and his relatively clean record.  Judge was suspended from all rugby up to and including Friday 13 September, meaning he will miss North Harbour’s match against Manawatu this Sunday and next Friday against Tasman.

Jordan Manihera, who was cited after the match, was suspended for one week up to and including Sunday 8 September for stamping on Northland lock Bryce Williams in the second minute of the second half.  After hearing submissions from the player’s representative, Nick Davison QC took into account Manihera’s early admission of guilt, and accepted the offending was reckless but at the lower end of the scale of offending.

Manihera will miss North Harbour’s match against Manawatu in Palmerston North this Sunday.