Nick Wood is given his marching orders
Gloucester prop Nick Wood has been banned for eight weeks for stamping on Saracens' Jacques Burger.
Wood was sent off 73 seconds into Sunday's match, the second fastest red card in Aviva Premiership history.
Gloucester went on to lose 44-12, and Wood was quick to apologise to Burger and his Kingsholm team-mates afterwards.
Gloucester boss Nigel Davies and Burger jumped to the prop's defence after the match, saying Wood was not usually "that sort of player."
The maximum punishment was nine weeks and the Rugby Football Union disciplinary hearing felt that Wood's offence was serious enought to warrant eight.
He will not be available to play until November 13 which means the Cherry & Whites will be without the loosehead's services for five league matches and two Heineken Cup fixtures.
Wood will be unavailable for Aviva Premiership matches with Northampton, Newcastle, Exeter, Bath and Wasps, plus the first two Heineken pool stage clashes with Perpignan and Munster.
His case was heard by a panel comprising chairman Christopher Quinlan QC, Mike Curling and John Doubleday. Source : http://www1.skysports.com/rugby-union/news/12549/8928855/aviva-premiership-gloucester-prop-nick-wood-banned-for-eight-weeks-for-stamp