Williamson’s suspension comes after he was red-carded for striking an opposition player with his head during his team’s Bunnings Warehouse Heartland Championship match against Poverty Bay on Sunday 14 November.
The Duty Judicial (DJO) accepted Williamson’s admission of guilt and ruled his tackle to be at the mid-range of offending with a ten-week suspension. The suspension was reduced to five weeks due to mitigating factors including but not limited to the player’s clean record.
Williamson's five-week suspension means he will miss the Heartland XV match on 5 December 2021 and a subsequent four meaningful matches once the players rugby schedule has been determined.