Six-match ban

Sharks centre Andre Esterhuizen has been handed a six-week ban after being sent off for a dangerous tackle on Sunday as his side drew 9-9 with the Melbourne Rebels in Durban in the Super Rugby competition. Esterhuizen’s early dismissal left his side down at 14 men for more than an hour of the game and he was found guilty at a disciplinary hearing of a reckless challenge that ‘‘placed the opposing player in an extremely dangerous position’’.