Italy loose forward Mauro Bergamasco will miss the rest of the RBS 6 Nations Championship after he was handed a 13-week ban for poking Wales full-back Lee Byrne in the eye.

The incident happened towards the end of Wales' 47-8 win over the Azzurri in Cardiff on Saturday.

Bergamasco's case was heard by a three-man disciplinary committee and the decision took into account his guilty plea and other mitigating factors.

The ban will start on March 3, the date the 28-year-old is expected to recover from a shoulder injury.

He will not therefore be able to play until June 2.

More news from SportingLife.com