Connacht prop Robbie Morris will miss the opening two rounds of Amlin Challenge Cup action.
The former Northampton player has received a three-week suspension after being found guilty of striking by an Irish Rugby Football Union disciplinary committee.
Morris, who moved to Galway from Newcastle Falcons in 2007, had been cited for an altercation with Ulster's Thomas Anderson in Connacht's 30-6 Magners League defeat last weekend.
As a result, the twice-capped England international will not be available for his side's first round clash with Olympus Rugby XV Madrid at the Sportsground on Friday, October 9.
Morris will also miss the following Friday's trip to France to face Montpellier.
The 27-year-old can return to playing on October 20.
Morris still has the right to appeal the sentence but his head coach Michael Bradley had indicated prior to the initial hearing that he would not be selecting him for this weekend's game at the Dragons regardless of the outcome of the IRFU investigation.
