Hughes banned for three games after knocking out North

GeorgeNorth - cropped

Wasps flanker Nathan Hughes has been banned for three games for his part in an incident that saw George North knocked unconscious.

The Fijian caught North's head with his shin as the Northampton Saints wing touched down for a try in Wasps' 52-30 defeat at Franklin's Gardens last week - the Wales star suffering a serious head injury for the third time in recent months after being knocked out twice in one Six Nations game against England.

Contact was seemingly accidental, but Hughes was sent off regardless.

A Rugby Football Union panel found that Hughes carried "no intention" to harm North, though he was punished for his recklessness.

Hughes will become available again for Wasps' Premiership run-in, after missing three "meaningful" fixtures.

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