Leicester lose Izaia Perese for crunch games in PREM run-in

Leicester’s ill-disciplined Wallaby international, Izaia Perese, has been handed a three-match ban for the red card he received in last Saturday’s thrashing of derby rivals Northampton.

The centre was shown a 20-minute red card for a dangerous tackle on George Furbank in the 75th minute of the 41-17 victory over Northampton, which has put the Tigers right in the hunt for a home semi-final with three games of the regular season to run.

Perese, who has picked up six yellow cards, as well as last week’s red, in 28 appearances for the club, will miss this weekend’s trip to Sale Sharks and the trip to Harlequins on 30 May.

He will be available for the match against Bath in Round 18 on 6 June, subject to passing the World Rugby Coaching Intervention Programme.

Perese accepted foul play had occurred but argued that the offence did not meet the red card threshold. However, the disciplinary panel upheld the decision of referee Matthew Carley, stating: “In our view, the Player approached the collision at a speed at which he could not control his body movement and height and at which he failed to discharge his duty of care.

“We considered the submission that we should not discourage defenders from moving across the defensive line at speed but it seems from our experience in the game that defenders are capable of covering space and still controlling their ability to effect a legal tackle. The Player in this case did not do that and the tackle seemed to us to be a clear example of the type of head on head collision with force which the rules are trying to prevent.”

Last month it was announced that Perese would be leaving Leicester at the end of the season.