Six Nations suspensions: Bad news for Scotland and France

DISCIPLINARY NEWS: Scotland No.8 Evie Gallagher will miss her team’s Six Nations encounter against France on Saturday.

The forward has been suspended for one match after she was handed a red card for an illegal clear-out on Wales’ replacement hooker Kelsey Jones early in the second half of Scotland’s 24-21 opening round victory in Edinburgh.

The Bristol Bears loose forward appeared in front of an independent disciplinary committee, who upheld the red card and “determined that the low-range entry point of two weeks/matches was appropriate”.

“In light of the player accepting she committed an act of foul play as well as other mitigating factors, [the disciplinary committee] have applied the maximum 50 per cent reduction in sanction, thus reducing the final sanction to one week/match,” the Six Nations statement confirming the suspension added.

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The disciplinary committee was chaired by Marcello D’Orey (Portugal), who was joined by former international player Stefan Terblanche (South Africa) and former referee Val Toma (Romania).

The decision means that Gallagher will miss this weekend’s trip to France but will be available for their remaining three championship matches, against Italy, England and Ireland.

Gallagher’s importance to Scotland was highlighted by the fact she appeared near the top of the team’s stats charts for carries (70 metres from nine) and tackles (10 completed) despite playing only 52 minutes at Hive Stadium.

*France centre Gabrielle Vernier has been handed a three-week suspension following her team’s win over Ireland.

Vernier was red-carded in the second half after a head-on-head collision with Ireland’s Eve Higgins.

The suspension means that the centre will miss this weekend’s fixtures against Scotland, followed by matches against Wales and Italy.

Wales No.8 Georgia Evans is free to play after she received a red card as the result of two yellow cards issued for offences contrary to Laws 9.20(c) and 9.13 in the match against Scotland.

Wales will face England this weekend.