NEWPORT Gwent Dragons will be without tighthead Francisco Chaparro until the final two matches of the season after the Argentinean prop was given a 10-week ban for a tip tackle.

The 24-year-old was sent off in the closing stages of the 31-19 defeat to Leinster in Dublin last Friday.

Chaparro was shown a red card in the final minute by Italian referee Marius Mitrea after dumping Ireland scrum-half Isaac Boss into the turf when clearing out a ruck.

It was a costly mistake that enabled Leinster to score a fourth try and deny the Dragons a losing point that their tenacious efforts merited.

Chaparro will have to wait to make it up to his teammates as the offence was deemed to be at the top end of the International Rugby Board’s scale and the disciplinary committee banned him until April 27.

He will now be missing until the final two rounds of the RaboDirect Pro12 when the Dragons travel to the Scarlets and finish against Treviso at home.

Chaparro has played 18 times this season since his summer arrival at Rodney Parade from Stade Francais.