Blues lock Filo Paulo will miss the rest of the Super 15 rugby season after being banned for punching Tom Donnelly during last weekend's North v South match in Dunedin.
Paulo was one of four players cited after a fracas 32 minutes into the first half of the match, won by South 32-24. North halfback Brendon Leonard and hooker Dane Coles and South centre Kendrick Lynn all escaped sanction, but Paulo was not so lucky after his hearing today.
The judiciary found the offending was at the top end of IRB sanctions for foul play, meriting a penalty of eight weeks. Paulo's relatively clean record, early acknowledgement of the offence and remorse for the incident saw a suspension of five weeks imposed.
The suspension takes effect from this weekend and extends up to and including the weekend of July 14.
