Athletic Marist will be able to cover the loss of three players who were banned following a hearing in Oamaru on Wednesday night.
The hearing stemmed from an incident in last Saturday's game at Weston between Athletic Marist and Valley.
Athletic Marist had three players sent from the field after an all-in brawl.
The Athletic Marist team nearly got up to win the game, going down 26-25 to a last-minute penalty.
At a hearing on Wednesday night, the three players were collectively given bans of 59 weeks.
North Otago Rugby Football Union chief executive Colin Jackson said the red cards were very disappointing and reflected poorly on the Athletic Marist team.
He declined to name the players involved and so did the Athletic Marist club.
The Otago Daily Times believes the players to be suspended are Erone Kivalu, who has been handed a three-week ban, Folau Tokai, who was given a four-week ban, and Viliami Kaufana, who has been banned for a year.
It is believed Kaufana did not turn up to the hearing so was given the longer ban.
No8 Malu Falepaini was shown a red card but he had been mistakenly identified and was exonerated of all charges.
The Athletic Marist team sits second in the competition on 12 points and will travel inland tomorrow to take on Kurow, which sits on eight points.
Athletic Marist president Warren Pitches said the club had plenty of players and would be able to field a team tomorrow despite losing the three players to the suspensions.
