4-week ban for Barrett

Crusaders captain Scott Barrett has been banned for four weeks as the Sanzaar judiciary came down hard on NewZealand players for indiscretions in the latest round of Super Rugby Pacific matches. Hurricanes hooker Asafo Aumua and Highlanders lock Josh Dickson were both banned for three weeks as the crackdown on head contact continued. Barrett pleaded guilty to a high tackle in his team’s 27-23 loss to the Blues in Christchurch on Friday night where he was red-carded just after halftime for his hit on Blues prop Alex Hodgman. Dickson and Aumua were both punished for incidents in the Highlanders-Hurricanes match in Dunedin on Saturday night.