Pape slapped with 10-week ban
A Six Nations disciplinary committee on Thursday banned French lock Pascal Pape for 10 weeks, for charging with his knee into the back of Ireland's Jamie Heaslip.
The ban rules him out of the rest of the Six Nations tournament.
The committee said in a statement it had wanted to ban Pape for 15 weeks, but reduced the punishment because of his "expressions of remorse".
Pape appeared before a Six Nations disciplinary committee on Wednesday, having been cited under Law 10.4 (a) – for striking the lower back of Heaslip with his knee in the 52nd minute of the Six Nations match between Ireland and France in Dublin last Saturday (February 14).
The disciplinary committee, chaired by Rod McKenzie (Scotland) along with Bill Dunlop (Scotland) and Ian Unsworth (England), heard from the player and his representatives and viewed various TV angles of the incident.
They determined that Pape had committed an act of foul play which merited a red card, rather than the on-field yellow card given by the referee.
"The disciplinary committee decided that the offence should be categorised at the top end of World Rugby's scale of seriousness and set an entry point of a 15 week suspension," the statement said.
"It noted further the absence of aggravating factors and the existence of certain mitigating factors, including the player's admission of foul play and his expressions of remorse for what had occurred and the injury sustained by his opponent, in applying a five week (33 percent) reduction from the entry point."
Pape is suspended for 10 weeks and has the right of appeal.
French coach Philippe Saint-Andre had defended his player after the game.
"When you watch the images of the incident I don't think you can say it was deliberate," he said.
But Pape made a public apology to Heaslip on Twitter on Tuesday.
This was accepted by the Irishman.
Pape said he was "sincerely sorry for having injured" Heaslip and that it he had "absolutely no intention to cause him harm".
"Thanks for your message," the Irishman replied.
"It's a physical game that we play and these things happen. I fully accept your apology."
Ireland next play England in Dublin on March 1 in the match that could decide the tournament. The two countries are the only two to have won all their games so far.
France play Wales on February 28 needing a win to keep alive their faint hopes of a Six Nations title.
Agence France-Presse
