Wellington Hurricanes captain Ardie Savea has been suspended for one week after a throat-slitting gesture at an opponent during Friday’s Super Rugby match against Melbourne Rebels.

Savea was summoned to a judiciary committee on Tuesday for putting his thumb across his throat during an altercation with Rebels halfback Ryan Louwrens during Friday’s game.

The 29-year-old apologized after receiving a yellow card just prior to the incident.

As a role model, Savea expressed regret for the action that overshadowed his team’s 39-33 victory.

The judiciary committee issued Savea a caution for “unsportsmanlike conduct” after determining that his actions did not warrant a red card.

However, it was stated that the combination of Savea’s yellow card and warning constituted “persistent offending.”

The committee determined that a one-week suspension would be “an appropriate sanction.”

Savea, who has played 70 Tests for the All Blacks, including four as captain, admitted after the game that he had lost control and disclosed that his father had reprimanded him severely.

“I got off the field and my old man called me and kind of groaned me off, so that’s a lesson learned,” he told reporters.

“He’s a pretty calm dude, it’s not often I get a call like that after the game. Mum was in the crowd too and she asked if I was all good, because usually I’m not like that.”

John Kirwan, a former All Blacks winger, has defended Savea and questioned whether the incident merited the involvement of the judiciary committee.

The All Blacks’ pre-game haka has occasionally featured the same throat-slitting gesture.

Photo by EPA/KIM LUDBROOK