Castres’ hopes of avoiding relegation from the Top 14 suffered a blow on Wednesday with the news France scrum-half Rory Kockott will miss a crucial home game with Bordeaux-Begles on April 11.
The 28-year-old South Africa-born star — who made his debut for France as a replacement against Fiji last November — received an automatic one match suspension for accruing three yellow cards.
Castres, champions just two years ago, are presently in the relegation places as they are second from bottom two points adrift of safety with five matches of the league season remaining.
Another player to feel the wrath of the National Rugby League (LNR) disciplinary committee was Toulouse’s Samoan international lock Iosefa Tekori.
The 31-year-old — a former team-mate of Kockott’s at Castres — will also miss one game for dangerous play in the 18-13 win over Montpellier on March 14.
The suspension means he will miss the home game with struggling Bayonne on April 11.