Rugby: Argentina's Senatore gets 10-week ban for biting by Super Rugby organisers

Leonardo Senatore of the Jaguares looking on during the Super Rugby match between New Zealand's Auckland Blues and Argentina's Jaguares on April 2, 2016. PHOTO: AFP

JOHANNESBURG (AFP) - Jaguares flanker Leonardo Senatore has been banned for 10 weeks by Super Rugby organisers Sanzaar on Monday for biting a rival during a weekend match.

Sanzaar said in a statement that the 32-year-old Argentina international would be punished for biting Coastal Sharks' Keegan Daniel's arm in the 69th minute of the Sharks' 25-22 victory in Ellis Park on Saturday.

Earlier Jaguares skipper and Argentina hooker Creevy was suspended for one week after a dangerous tackle on Jean Deysel in the same match.

It is the second time Senatore has been found guilty of the offence, having had to sit out nine weeks in 2013 for biting South Africa forward Eben Etzebeth in the Rugby Championship.

Senatore will miss the rest of the Super Rugby season and return to action on July 29. He will be available for the Pumas for the Rugby Championship that starts on August 27.

His Buenos Aires club said that Manuel Leguizamon had been called up as Senatore's replacement for their upcoming matches in South Africa.

Creevy, 31, will miss a round 13 fixture against the Golden Lions at Ellis Park stadium in Johannesburg on Saturday.

South African loose forward Deysel had to be stretchered off after the first-half incident. Super Rugby judicial officer Robert Stelzner said he did not believe the tackle was intentional and the excellent disciplinary record of Creevy also played a role in the lenient sentence.

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