Argentina without Juan Figallo for three weeks over head-butting ban

Juan Figallo: Three-week ban for Argentina prop, found guilty of a head-butting offence

Argentina prop Juan Figallo has been banned for three weeks for striking an opponent during their defeat by France last weekend.

Figallo was cited for an apparent head-butt on France captain Pascal Pape during the end of the 39-22 reverse in Lille on Saturday.

That citing came as a breach of Law 10.4(a) but the Judicial Officer said it should be categorised under Law 10.4 (h), charging into a ruck or maul.

An IRB statement read: "(The Judicial Officer) found the incident to be at the mid-range of IRB sanctions, after he had viewed various angles of the incident and listened to representations by the player, his forwards coach, team manager and legal representative.

"From the entry point of five weeks, the Judicial Officer applied no additional sanction for any aggravating factors but allowed the maximum two weeks of mitigation, to reflect the player's exemplary previous disciplinary record and his conduct at the hearing.

"A sanction of three weeks was duly imposed with Juan Figallo suspended until midnight on 9 December 2012. The player has the right of appeal."