Owen Franks won't be back on the rugby field until the All Blacks first test against France next month.

Crusaders prop Owen Franks has been handed a two-match ban for striking, which ends in time for the All Blacks' first test against France.

Franks pleaded guilty to striking his Blues opponent James Parsons on Saturday night, at a Sanzaar Foul Play Review Committee hearing.

He was suspended from all forms of the game up to and including Saturday, June 2. He misses Super Rugby matches against the Hurricanes and Chiefs.



The incident occurred in the 36th minute of the match, won by the Crusaders 32-24 in Auckland.

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Committee chairman Nigel Hampton QC said the foul play merited a mid-range entry point of four weeks.

"However, taking into account mitigating factors including the players good record over an extensive playing history which includes only one previous judicial sanction, his expressed remorse and apology to the other player, and the player's guilty plea at the first available opportunity, the Foul Play Review Committee reduced the suspension to two weeks."



The incident was initially missed by the on-field officials but on further review of the match footage, the citing commissioner deemed the incident met the red card threshold.

Franks was the second Crusaders and All Blacks prop to be sidelined for an incident that was missed by the on-field officials in as many weeks.

Joe Moody was given a two-week suspension for striking Waratahs second-five Kurtley Beale at AMI Stadium last week.