France rugby hooker Peato Mauvaka has been handed a three-match suspension following an off-the-ball incident with Scotland’s Ben White in the Six Nations match at Stade de France.

The 28-year-old was initially given a yellow card by referee Matthew Carley, and the in-game review did not upgrade it to a red, perhaps because broadcast footage did not show head-to-head contact. However, in the wake of an outcry on social media, the citing commissioner intervened.

An independent disciplinary Committee on Thursday found Mauvaka guilty of breaching Law 9.12: “A player must not physically or verbally abuse anyone. Physical abuse includes, but is not limited to, biting, punching, contact with the eye or eye area, striking with any part of the arm (including stiff-arm tackles), shoulder, head or knee(s).”

The committee set a six-week ban but reduced it to three matches — half the initial sanction — due to Mauvaka’s remorse, clean record, and good conduct.

Mauvaka’s suspension begins with Toulouse’s crunch Top 14 clash against Bordeaux Bègles on Sunday, and ends on 6 April in the Champions Cup playoff against Sale Sharks.

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