Wednesday 18 February 2015 20:37, UK
Scotland will appeal against fly-half Finn Russell's suspension for their Six Nations game against Italy.
The Glasgow player was handed a three-week ban, reduced by a week for his clean record, following a high tackle on Wales fly-half Dan Biggar in Scotland’s 23-26 defeat at Murrayfield on Sunday.
Russell’s punishment was handed down by a Six Nations disciplinary committee in London on Wednesday after New Zealand referee Glen Jackson decided the offence only warranted a trip to the sin-bin for Russell.
But the Scottish Rugby Union (SRU) will contest the decision, which would see Russell miss the home game with Italy on February 28, before becoming available again for the subsequent games against England and Ireland.
A statement read: "We are disappointed by the outcome of today's discipline committee meeting, and subsequent suspension of stand-off Finn Russell.
"Following the arrival of the written sanction later this week, we intend to appeal."
The 22-year-old’s club coach, former Scotland international Gregor Townsend, was also unhappy with the decision.
"I apologise to all those rugby players that I have coached in my career. Keeping your eye on the ball = 2 week ban,” he tweeted.
The disciplinary committee were convinced Russell should have received a red card for the challenge though.
A statement read: "Finn Russell, the Scotland outside half, appeared today before an independent Six Nations Disciplinary Committee at Heathrow, having been cited under Law 10.4 (e) and (i) for an alleged dangerous tackle of an opponent in the air in the 31st minute of the RBS 6 Nations match between Scotland and Wales on Sunday 15 February 2015.
"The Disciplinary Committee, chaired by Mike Hamlin (England) along with Jean-Philippe Lachaume (France) and Pat Barriscale (Ireland), having heard from the player and his representative and viewed various TV angles of the incident, determined that Finn Russell had committed an act of foul play which merited a red card rather than the on-field yellow card given by the Match Officials.
"The Disciplinary Committee decided that the offence should be categorised under Law 10.4 (i) and that it was reckless rather than deliberate. The Committee considered it at the lower end of World Rugby's scale of seriousness carrying a 3 week suspension. It noted the absence of aggravating factors and the existence of certain mitigating factors, including the player's clear disciplinary record, in applying a one-week reduction from the entry point.
"Finn Russell is suspended from playing until midnight on Sunday, 1 March 2015 and has the right of appeal."
