Blow for Waratahs as bans on Will Skelton and Tolu Latu are upheld

The New South Wales Waratahs’ hopes of defending their Super Rugby title suffered a blow with appeals against the suspensions of forwards Will Skelton and Tolu Latu dismissed.

The Waratahs appealed a four-week ban to hooker Latu and a two-week sanction for hulking lock Skelton, but their suspensions were upheld in full by a judiciary panel late on Thursday.

Latu will miss all three of the Waratahs’ final regular season matches and the first week of the play-offs if the Sydney team qualify.

Wallaby lock Skelton will miss both matches of the Waratahs’ South Africa tour – against the Lions on Saturday and the Cheetahs the week after.

The Waratahs are clinging to a precarious three-point lead over the ACT Brumbies at the top of the Australian conference, meaning a loss in any of their final three matches could put their campaign on a knife-edge.

With Wallabies hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau unavailable due to concussion, Hugh Roach is expected to replace Latu.