Rugby: Nonu cops one-week suspension

Hurricanes second five-eighth Ma'a Nonu has been banned for one week after a two-hour Sanzar judicial hearing found him guilty of a dangerous charge on Highlanders halfback Jimmy Cowan.Nonu was yellow-carded for the offence in the Hurricanes' 14-9 loss to the Highlanders on Friday night and was sent off after earlier being sinbinned for a professional foul.

He will miss the Hurricanes' match against the Crusaders in Wellington on Saturday, which was to be his 100th Super rugby match for the franchise.

Cowan sent a letter to Sanzar in support of Nonu, which aided the All Blacks midfield back's case.

Nonu is no stranger to the Sanzar judiciary.

In 2005 he was suspended for a week for a dangerous tackle against the Sharks and copped the same punishment for the same offence three years later. On that occasion he had been yellow-carded for a high tackle on the Highlanders' Clint Newland.

Last March he was cleared of making a reckless tackle on Stormers first five-eighth Peter Grant in the Hurricanes' 37-13 loss at Cape Town.