The Manawatu midfielder Frank Bryant has been suspended from rugby for one week for punching Tasman's fullback Tom Marshall in the ITM Cup match at Nelson.
The suspension rules Bryant out of Manawatu's rescheduled round 10 match against Otago in Dunedin on Tuesday but he'll be available for ext Friday's Championship final against Hawkes Bay.
The NZRU Judicial Officer Nigel Hampton concluded that there was a degree of provocation as a result of Bryant being cleaned out of a number of rucks in an unorthodox and potentially dangerous manner.
Hampton took into account Bryant's good record in 77 first class matches for Manawatu and the fact that he showed remorse.
