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Newcastle's Juan Pablo Socino handed two-week ban

Juan Pablo Socino will sit out Newcastle Falcons' European fortnight after being handed a two-week suspension by the RFU disciplinary panel. Harry Trump/Getty Images

Juan Pablo Socino will miss Newcastle Falcons' opening European Challenge Cup fixtures after being handed a two-week suspension by the RFU's disciplinary panel.

Socino, 29, was cited after a high tackle in the first minute second half of the Falcons' Aviva Premiership trip to Exeter.

The chairman of the panel Antony Davies said: ""The panel found this was a reckless act in which the player made contact with the opposition player's jaw with his forearm. In line with the new sanction table, this mandates a mid-range entry point.

"Thereafter the panel gave full credit for the player's previous record, his good character (displayed both on-field in remaining with the injured player and at the hearing) and reduced the ban to two weeks".

Socino will miss Newcastle's European fortnight, with the Argentine sitting out games against Newport Gwent Dragons and Bordeaux.