'Outrageously bad' tackle slammed as rugby star faces 'very very lengthy' ban

Top14 rugby player Ryno Pieterse was slammed for a tackle that respected referee Nigel Owens says will earn the South African a "very very lengthy ban".

Pieterse's Castres was trailing 20-23 when Bordeaux scrum-half Maxime Lucu put a kick high with his team on the attack.

Pieterse shot out of the defensive line and launched his entire body off the ground directly at the kicker, snapping his opponent in half unexpectedly and leaving Lucu injured on the ground.

Pieterse was shown a red card immediately by the referee.

Highly experienced international referee Owens took to Twitter to share his disgust at the tackle.

"This was as obvious a (red card) you will see," he said.

"But it has to now be followed by a very very lengthy ban."

Rucked Magazine on Twitter asked, "is there a card above red?".