London - Edinburgh and Scotland centre Nick de Luca received a 13-week ban for a dangerous tackle on Wednesday, a suspension which if upheld should see him ruled out until the end of the season.
The ban was imposed by a disciplinary hearing after De Luca was sent off during Edinburgh's 24-7 loss away to Welsh regional side the Ospreys in the Celtic League on Friday.
De Luca was shown a red card for a tip-tackle, now regarded as one of rugby's most dangerous offences by officials, on Ospreys scrumhalf Tom Grabham at the Liberty Stadium.
The 29-year-old de Luca, who 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, has the right of appeal.