Bad-boy French forward discovers Six Nations ban fate after Scotland incident - and why there was 'leniency'

The flanker will be suspended for the game against England in Paris this weekend as France look to clinch the Six Nations title. He will also miss three matches for his club, La Rochelle; two of them in the Top 14 against Pau and Bayonne, and one in the European Challenge Cup against Newcastle.

Jégou, who appeared before a disciplinary panel on Wednesday via video link, has escaped relatively lightly. Eben Etzebeth, the South Africa lock, was banned for 12 weeks for an eye gouge during the Springboks’ win over Wales in the autumn. And former Glasgow Warriors forward Henco Venter was suspended for six weeks after “making contact with the eye” of Leicester prop Dan Cole last season’s Champions Cup.

The leniency shown to Jégou was due to the player’s good disciplinary record and because no injury was sustained by Ashman.

The incident was apparently missed by the match referee, Angus Gardner, and the TMO but Jégou was cited the day after the game which Scotland won 50-40.

A statement from the Six Nations said: “The independent Disciplinary Committee had amended the charge to include ‘reckless contact with the eye(s)’ and upheld the citing, finding that the player had committed the relevant act of foul play (as amended) and that the conduct had warranted a red card.

“In applying World Rugby’s sanctioning provisions, the independent Disciplinary Committee determined that the low-end entry point of six weeks was appropriate in light of the fact that (among other reasons) there was no injury caused to the victim.

“In light of mitigating factors (including the player’s good conduct and good disciplinary record), the independent Disciplinary Committee applied a two-week reduction in sanction, thus reducing the final sanction to four weeks.

“There were no aggravating factors to increase the sanction. The player was reminded of his right of appeal.”