De Luca gets three-month ban

Edinburgh centre Nick De Luca has been slapped with a 13-week ban for a spear tackle.

De Luca on Wednesday appeared before an Pro12 disciplinary committee comprising Michael Coghlan, Barry O'Driscoll and David Hurley (all from Ireland).

This followed the red card issued by the referee for a tip tackle, contrary to Law 10.4(j), during the Ospreys and Edinburgh match last Friday, February 22.

Having considered all of the evidence presented, including the video of the incident, the disciplinary committee considered the incident to be at the top end level for this type of offence - which has a range of suspensions from 12 to 52 weeks.

Having taken into account aggravating and mitigating factors, decided that a suspension of 13 weeks was  appropriate.

The suspension concludes at midnight on Sunday, May 26.

The player has a right of appeal.

The 29-year-old de Luca won the last of his 38 caps in Scotland's shock defeat by Tonga in Aberdeen in November and has not yet featured in the ongoing Six Nations.

De Luca was playing for just the second time Friday following his return from surgery on a fractured eye socket suffered in training in January, an injury which was set to sideline him from the Six Nations completely.