Highlanders prop banned

Wellington - Highlanders prop forward Kane Hames has been suspended for five weeks for striking Crusaders lock Dominic Bird during his team's Super 15 defeat in Dunedin, SANZAR officials said.

Hames pleaded guilty to hitting Bird in the 74th-minute of the 26-20 loss on Saturday.

"After taking all relevant facts ... into consideration, I found the incident to have a mid-range entry point which stipulates a five-week suspension," SANZAR judicial officer Robert Stelzner said in a statement.