England rugby's Launchbury banned over Fiji kick
Joe Launchbury will miss England's final two Tests of 2016 against Argentina and Australia after being found guilty Monday of kicking Fiji's Asaeli Tikoirotuma.
The Wasps lock will now miss this weekend's clash with the Pumas and the December 3 international against the Wallabies, both at Twickenham, after his boot connected with the head of Fiji centre Tikoirotuma in the 42nd minute of England's 58-15 home victory last Saturday.
After the match, Launchbury was cited for foul play following an incident where, in just the second minute of the Twickenham match, he appeared to take aim at the ball only to hit Tikoirotuma's head.
Disciplinary officials deemed Launchbury's conduct reckless rather than deliberate. The standard 'low-end' sanction for such an offence of a four-week ban was reduced to two following the second row's admission of guilt, Launchbury's previous clean disciplinary record and good conduct at the hearing.