League: Kiwi's 'disgraceful' tackle earns ban

Kiwi-born Rangi Chase found himself in trouble with the Super League judiciary. Photo / Getty

Kiwi-born Rangi Chase has been banned for seven matches by the Super League judiciary after a "disgraceful" tackle on a former teammate.

Chase, who played for New Zealand Maori before switching allegiance to England, received the suspension after seriously injuring Brett Ferres with a 'cannonball' tackle during Salford's Super League clash with Huddersfield.

The pair played together for England but that didn't stop Chase from targeting Ferres' standing leg in the tackle, seeing the Huddersfield man sustain an ankle injury that could see him on the sidelines for up to four months.

A lot of uproar in the #SL this week, because of this cannonball tackle from Rangi Chase. https://t.co/HtjXbmq2KY

— NRL News (@NRLNEWS) April 8, 2015

Huddersfield coach Paul Anderson urged the Rugby Football League to "throw the book" at Chase, and the former St George Illawarra and Wests Tigers playmaker was handed a lengthy ban.

"[Ferres] is not in a good way," Anderson said. "His syndesmosis ligaments are no longer.

"It's disgraceful. It's attacking a standing leg and, when you look at the footage we have, it's even worse. I'd have still been the same if Brett hadn't been injured.

"We coach people to hit thighs and pull knees together; attacking the joints is just not good. It won't be the end of his season but he'll be out for three to four months."