Rugby:Ospreys forward George Stowers has received a four-week ban after being cited for a dangerous tackle on Newport Gwent Dragons wing Tonderai Chavhanga during a Pro12 game last Friday. An independent league disciplinary committee suspended Stowers following a disciplinary hearing in Dublin today.

The panel decided Stowers’ offence merited a low-end entry point punishment of two weeks, but the sanction was increased by a week in view of his poor disciplinary record during the past three years, and then a further seven days in line with a recent International Rugby Board memorandum on dangerous tackling.

Stowers, who has the right of appeal, can resume playing on February 9, ruling him out of Ospreys’ Heineken Cup appointments with Treviso tomorrow and Biarritz on Sunday week, plus two LV Cup games.

In a separate hearing, Ospreys’ Wales international forward Jonathan Thomas had a citing complaint for a dangerous tackle in the same game dismissed.