Rugby-Crusaders lose Franks for two weeks for high hit

The 36-year-old twice World Cup winner could take a "Head Contact Process Coaching Intervention Programme" to reduce the ban to one week. New Crusaders coach Rob Penney is already without injured All Blacks outside back Will Jordan for the season and skipper Scott Barrett, who will miss another five weeks because of a broken finger.

Super Rugby Pacific champions the Canterbury Crusaders, already enduring the club's worst ever run of results, were struck by a fresh blow on Tuesday when former All Blacks prop Owen Franks was suspended for two weeks. Franks was penalised for a high hit on Wellington Hurricanes lock Justin Sangster as he cleaned out a ruck in the dying minutes of last Friday's 14-10 loss, a fourth in a row from the start of the season for the Christchurch side.

"(Franks made) direct head contact with the shoulder, that was reckless, made at high speed, in dynamic play with the player colliding with a high degree of force," SANZAAR's foul play committee said in its ruling. "The player was given a discount for entering an early guilty plea ... reducing the suspension from four weeks to two weeks."

The veteran of 108 tests, tighthead Franks will be unavailable for this weekend's clash with the Auckland Blues and the match against last year's losing finalists, the Waikato Chiefs, the following week. The 36-year-old twice World Cup winner could take a "Head Contact Process Coaching Intervention Programme" to reduce the ban to one week.

New Crusaders coach Rob Penney is already without injured All Blacks outside back Will Jordan for the season and skipper Scott Barrett, who will miss another five weeks because of a broken finger.

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