Wales skipper Sam Warburton has received a three-week suspension following an IRB disciplinary hearing following his red card in Wales' World Cup semi-final defeat to France.
The Cardiff Blues flanker was sent-off for a dangerous tackle by Irish referee Alain Rolland and has been suspended for three weeks meaning he is free to return to action on November 7, just in time for his side's opening Heineken Cup clash.
The Blues travel to Racing Metro on Friday November 11 and will glad to have Warburton at their disposal with their current open-side options limited with Martyn Williams sidelined with a broken arm.
Warburton became the seventh player in Welsh international history to be sent off and the second at the Rugby World Cup. Ironically, the first Welshman to see red in the World Cup was also playing in a semi-final, Neath lock Huw Richards.
But Richard's dismissal came eight minutes from time, while Warburton left the field with 62 minutes left to play. The other Welsh players to receive their marching orders are Geoff Wheel, Paul Ringer, Kevin Moseley, John Davies, Garin Jenkins.