The news came as the Reds suffered a major double-blow to their Super Rugby title hopes with backs Anthony Faingaa and Ben Lucas both uncertain to play again this season after their 22-14 loss to the Brumbies.
A SANZAR judicial hearing in Brisbane found Vaea guilty of making a dangerous tackle on Ioane in the 48th minute of Saturday's Super 15 match in Brisbane.
Vaea was cited to appear before the tribunal and he was suspended from all rugby for one week up to and including next Sunday.
Television replays showed that Ioane was knocked out when he crashed face-first into the ground after being struck across the face by Vaea's swinging arm.
Reds officials said the Wallaby winger was suffering from concussion but that precautionary scans Sunday had revealed no further damage.
Ioane is expected to miss the Reds' penultimate match against the Western Force in Perth on Saturday night and possibly the final-round clash against the Chiefs in Hamilton.
The news was not as good however for Reds centre Faingaa, who sustained a grade two hamstring strain late in the match at Lang Park and is expected to be sidelined for at least a month.
With two regular season rounds left before the play-offs, Faingaa could only hope to make it back for the tournament decider on July 9 at best if the Reds qualify.
Full-back Lucas is also battling to return for the finals after badly injuring his knee in the dying stages.
The versatile back strained his medial cruciate ligament and is down to miss three to four weeks.
Making life tougher for the table-topping Queenslanders is the fact Kiwi recruit Mike Harris, who has started at both centre and full-back this season, is unlikely to return from knee surgery this week.
But coach Ewen McKenzie said his side would roll with the punches.
"It's disappointing but every team has injuries and experiences challenges at this late stage of the season," McKenzie said.
"We'll continue to move forward and as has been the case all season, it's now an opportunity for someone to take advantage of the chance they'll be given."
- AAP/AFP
Tags: sport, rugby-union, super-14, australia, qld, brisbane-4000 First posted June 5, 2011 12:21:00
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