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BLUES scrum-half Lloyd Williams has been banned for five weeks following his red card against Montpellier in the Heineken Cup clash at the Arms Park last Sunday.

The Welsh international was dismissed midway through the first-half for a tip-tackle on his opposite number Benoit Paillaugue and received his punishment at disciplinary hearing in Dublin yesterday.

The ban means Williams will not be available until the Blues’ final Heineken game at home to Sale on the weekend of Saturday January 19.

The Dublin panel determined that the offence was at the ‘mid-range entry point’ of eight weeks, but deducted four weeks for Williams’ guilty plea, his remorse, and previous good record, adding a further week as a deterrent to future tip-tackle offenders.

Tip-tackling carries a maximum penalty of a one year ban and a minimum of four weeks.

Williams’ ban rules him out for the entire Christmas programme and beyond and is the last thing the struggling Blues need as they attempt to stabilise their season.

Director of rugby Phil Davies is now likely to turn to highly-rated youngster and Wales Under-20 cap Lewis Jones to fill the No.9 jersey.

The Blues have two Welsh derbies in quick succession after they return from the Montpellier clash tomorrow night.

The Scarlets visit the Arms Park on Friday week and the Dragons follow them on Boxing Day.

They then have daunting trips to Munster in the Pro12 and Toulon in the Heineken Cup for the first two weeks of January, before Williams becomes available again.

Meanwhile Dragons flanker Jevon Groves has received a two-week ban following his sending off in his side’s Amlin Challenge Cup win at Italian minnows Mogliano last Saturday.

Groves got his marching orders in the 29th minute for an alleged tip-tackle on Mogliano full-back Ezio Galon.

But the charge was amended by an independent judicial officer to a dangerous tackle and groves will be available to face the Blues on Boxing Day.

* Northampton captain Dylan Hartley has received a two-week ban after being cited for foul play in a Heineken Cup game.

The England international hooker was reported for striking his opposite number Rory Best during last Friday’s Pool Four encounter at Franklin’s Gardens.

Hartley will miss Saturday’s Ulster return fixture in Belfast, plus Northampton’s Aviva Premiership appointment at home to Harlequins on December 22.

In a statement, European Rugby Cup said Hartley pleaded guilty to the offence.

Hartley, 26, recently returned to action after missing England’s entire autumn series of Tests through injury. Leicester’s Tom Youngs impressed as the starting hooker in his absence.

New Zealand-born Hartley has a chequered disciplinary history.

He received a 26-week ban in 2007 after being found guilty of gouging two Wasps players in a Premiership match, and earlier this year he was cited for biting Ireland flanker Stephen Ferris during a Six Nations game that saw him land an eight-week suspension.

Northampton, now without Hartley, must beat Ulster this weekend to keep alive their fading Heineken Cup quarter-final hopes.