TIGHTHEAD Lloyd Fairbrother has been banned for three weeks after his red card in the Dragons’ Guinness PRO14 derby defeat at Cardiff Blues.

The prop was dismissed after half an hour at the Arms Park for catching opposite number Dillon Lewis in the head with his elbow after clearing out a ruck.

A disciplinary hearing was held in Edinburgh today with the 27-year-old giving evidence by video.

The Cornish was handed a three-week suspension, with a six-week ban reduced by 50 per cent due to mitigating factors including the player’s good record, acceptance of the red card and behaviour throughout the hearing.

That rules him out of Sunday’s derby with the Ospreys in Newport and the trip to the Scarlets a week on Saturday, plus the European Challenge Cup encounter with Timisoara Saracens.

“It’s as good as we could have expected," said caretaker boss and forwards coach Ceri Jones.

"I sat in there with Lloyd and they said that it was a strike to the head with the elbow so the sanction is medium range and four to six weeks.

“Because of good behaviour and mitigating circumstances with regard to the fact that the player was illegal in the first place [it was a three-week ban].

“Dillon was over the top of the ball, slowing it down. The referee asked him on two occasions to move, Harrison [Keddie] lifted him up and out, then Lloyd joined at that time.

“In the end they said it was reckless rather than intentional. We argued the case that we thought red was enough because there is an element of danger in virtually every ruck at the moment, especially if someone is jackaling, but that’s a matter for another day.

“It was a really unfortunate incident and everyone thought that when they saw it live but everyone within the game is concerned about player welfare, so we accept it."

Fairbrother will be back available for selection for the European clash with French heavyweights Clermont Auvergne.

The Dragons are already without Wales tighthead Leon Brown and influential South African Brok Harris because of thumb and toe injuries respectively.

Aaron Jarvis will start against the Ospreys with the management having Dan Suter, Nicky Thomas and Chris Coleman as options for the bench.

“We are fortunate that we have some strength in depth there so it’s a good opportunity for Aaron against one of his old teams,” said Jones.