Harlequins flank Will Skinner has received a two week ban for last weekend's red card earned from the bench in his side's European Cup win at Toulouse.

Skinner was sent off half an hour after he had been replaced for "an act contrary to good sportsmanship" one minute from time by referee Alain Rolland.

Skinner fell foul of the Irish official when he played the match ball in the technical zone and prevented Toulouse from taking a quick line-out.

Following the hearing in Dublin, a European Rugby Cup statement read: "For red card hearings, the onus rests with the player to demonstrate that the referee's decision to issue the red was wrong and the judicial officer found the player had not demonstrated that, and he accordingly upheld the red card.

"Employing the IRB-recommended sanctions for acts contrary to good sportsmanship, the judicial officer decided that the offence was at the low-end entry point of four weeks.

"Having taken into account the mitigating factors, including the player's excellent record, he decided on the maximum reduction of 50 percent and imposed a suspension of two weeks."

Skinner, who can appeal the decision, will be free to play again on January 2.

He will miss Harlequins' Premiership games against Saracens at Twickenham next Tuesday as well as the New Year's Eve trip to Exeter.

AFP