French prop Mohamed Haouas has been banned for three weeks following his punch on Scotland flanker Jamie Ritchie in their Six Nations game at the weekend.
Three week ban for Mohamed Haouas
Haouas was sent off for throwing the punch after 36 minutes of France’s 28-17 defeat at Murrayfield on Sunday.
The act of foul play contravened the laws against foul play and cost his side a chance of a first Grand Slam in a decade.
The Montpellier front-rower pleaded guilty for the offence in what was just his fourth test match following his debut against England earlier this year.
This is not pretty from Mohamed Haouas. ?♂
? The red card that has flipped this #SCOvFRA game on its head.
Watch live on @BBCOne & online: https://t.co/qquJ3qpGVc #bbcrugby #SixNations pic.twitter.com/KSDEJEFkZn
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) March 8, 2020
“The disciplinary committee found that the act of foul play warranted a mid-range entry point (six weeks’ suspension) and reduced that by three weeks to take account of mitigating factors (including good conduct, guilty plea and relative inexperience at international level),” Six Nations organisers said in a statement on Wednesday.
“Given his playing schedule, he is free to resume playing on Tuesday, April 14, 2020.”
It emerged on Monday that French team manager Raphael Ibanez had asked the Six Nations to investigate the allegation Scotland star Nick Haining gouged Mohamed Haouas shortly before the French prop was sent off, but it is not clear whether this has been taken into consideration by the disciplinary panel.
With France’s final Six Nations game currently cancelled and no Top14 matches scheduled until March 22 he’ll only miss three games in that period, and no international games.
The Six Nations could yet drag on for several months due to the outbreak of Covid-19 and he would then be allowed to play a part in that match.
“Main photo credit”
