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Leinster vs Glasgow Warriors takes major twist as star handed SIX-WEEK ban ahead of Champions Cup quarter-final clash
@Source: thesun.ie
GLASGOW WARRIORS will be without Henco Venter for their Champions Cup quarter-final against Leinster.
The forward has been handed a six-week suspension after admitting to an "act of foul play" in their last-16 win over the Leicester Tigers.
Venter, 33, appeared to make contact with the eyes of Leicester prop Dan Cole in the first-half of the game, with the Tigers reportedly lodging a complaint.
An independent disciplinary committee decided Venter had made reckless but not intentional contact with the eye.
The ban means he will miss this Friday's last-eight clash against Leinster in Dublin, as well as the semi-finals should the Scottish club get there.
An EPCR statement read: "Venter accepted he had committed an act of foul play, and that it would have warranted a red card, but that it was not intentional.
"It was decided that the offending was at the mid-range of World Rugby’s sanctions, and 12 weeks was selected as the appropriate entry point.
"Taking into account the player’s timely acceptance that he had committed an act of foul play that would have warranted a red card, his expression of remorse, clean disciplinary record and good conduct and full participation in the disciplinary hearing, the independent disciplinary committee decided to reduce the sanction by the maximum of 50% before imposing a six-week suspension.
"The precise matches to which the sanction applies is subject to confirmation of the club’s upcoming fixture list.
"Both the player and EPCR have the right to appeal the decision."
Leinster will be going into the game in buoyant mood after their rout of Harlequins last time out.
More than 55,000 fans watched the Blues batter the English club 62-0 at Croke Park.
A more modest attendance is expected at the Aviva Stadium for the visit of Glasgow, and the Blues have been warned not to underestimate their opponents.
Leinster backs coach Bleyendaal said: “It’s a dangerous game and it’s in their nature.
“Glasgow have that attitude and we expect nothing less in this knockout game.
“We’re going to enjoy playing in front of our home crowd and we’re going to need the support. That’s not going to win it for us necessarily and we’re still going to have to perform well.
“It’s two good attacking teams and two good defensive teams so it’s just going to be a good contest.”
Leinster will again be without James Ryan who is sidelined with a calf problem but they do welcome back Rónan Kelleher following a neck injury.
James Culhane is available having come through the return-to-play protocols.
But Jordan Larmour, Paddy McCarthy, Rob Russell, Alex Soroka and Will Connors remain out.
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