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Hamilton and Paice suspended

Gloucester lock Jim Hamilton and London Irish hooker David Paice have each been banned for seven weeks for fighting.

Seven-week bans for brawling duo

Jim Hamilton is set to miss Scotland's summer tour after receiving a seven-week suspension. A three-man Rugby Football Union panel banned Gloucester lock Hamilton and London Irish hooker David Paice following their brawl in the Aviva Premiership game between the clubs on May 5. Paice also landed a seven-week punishment, while Hamilton is out of contention for Scotland's June schedule that includes Test matches against Australia, Fiji and Samoa. Hamilton's suspension runs until August 19, covering Scotland's warm-up and tour matches this summer, and warm-up games at the start of next season. Paice's ban runs from August 10 to September 23. Both players have a right of appeal.

Tour squad

Scotland coach Andy Robinson is due to name his tour squad next week, when Hamilton could realistically have expected selection. But he was sent off, along with Paice, by referee Dave Pearson following an incident that sparked a mass brawl. Both players received yellow cards following an initial skirmish, and they were walking off the pitch together when Hamilton punched his opponent. Paice, who required stitches in a head wound, reacted and Pearson had no option but to show red cards. "The panel of His Honour Judge Jeff Blackett (chair), Robert Horner and Jeff Probyn considered that both offences required top-end entry points because they were committed after the players had been issued yellow cards," read an RFU statement.

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