Saracens hooker Schalk Brits has been given a three week suspension for a dangerous tackle on a Treviso winger in the Heineken Cup.

Brits was cited for an alleged dangerous tackle on the Benetton Treviso wing, Benjamin De Jager (No 14), during the first half of the game last weekend.

An independent Disciplinary Hearing was convened for the act which was a contravention of Law 10.4 (j) – Lifting a player from the ground and either dropping or driving that player’s head and/or upper body into the ground whilst the player’s feet are off the ground.

The independent Judicial Officer, Rod McKenzie (Scotland), upheld the citing complaint and having considered all the evidence available, determined that the act was in the mid-range of the level of seriousness for an offence of this type, with an entry point of six weeks.

Having taken into account mitigating factors, including the player’s guilty plea, clean record and clear remorse, the Judicial Officer reduced the period of suspension by the maximum amount of 50 per cent and suspended the player for a period of three weeks.

Brits will be available to play on Thursday, 8 December 2011.

This of course leaves the door open for John Smit, recently retired Springbok captain, having moved to Saracens to make the hooker berth his own and to make it difficult for Schalk Britz to return as No 1 hooker at Saracens.