Winger Gerhard van den Heever will miss Munster’s opening two Champions Cup matches after he received a two-match suspension for a dangerous tackle in the Pro 12 game away to Edinburgh at Murrayfield last Saturday.

The South African was cited “for allegedly tackling an opponent in the air in contravention of Law 10.4(i)”. He received a yellow card for the offence during the game, with the disciplinary panel finding “that the foul play had warranted a red card”.

The committee, chaired by Rhian Williams, alongside Ray Wilton and Richard Cole considered that the offence merited a lower-end entry point of three weeks, but “found that there were no aggravating factors and that there were a number of mitigating factors such that his suspension be reduced by one week.”

Van den Heever has started the last five matches for Munster, scoring a try in the recent victory over Ulster at Thomond Park.

He will miss the Champions Cup game at home to Treviso on Saturday and away to Stade Francais on Sunday week, but has the right of appeal.

Meanwhile, Edinburgh’s Fraser McKenzie had his appeal against a two-match ban turned down. The secondrow was cited “for charging into a ruck or maul in contravention of Law 10.4(h)” in the pro 12 game away to Connacht on October 31st.