Mauro Bergamasco guilty of gouging

Italy flank Mauro Bergamasco has been suspended from all rugby for 13 weeks after being found guilty of “deliberately placed his finger in the right eye” of an opponent.

Italy flank Mauro Bergamasco has been suspended from all rugby for 13 weeks after being found guilty of “deliberately placed his finger in the right eye” of an opponent.

The Stade Français star was cited for allegedly gouging Wales full-back Lee Byrne during Italy's 47-8 Six Nations defeat in Cardiff on Saturday and appeared before a disciplinary committee on Wednesday.

The three-man panel, chaired by Christopher Quinlan (England) and comprising Dr Barry O'Driscoll (Ireland) and Mike Rafter (England), found Bergamasco guilty of the offence, considering it to “in the mid range of sanctions” as laid down by the laws of the game.

The panel took into account “the player's admission of guilt and other mitigating factors” before passing judgement.

The suspension runs from 3 March (the date of Bergamasco's expected recovery from an existing shoulder injury) up to and including 2 June – a sentence that all but ends the 28-year-old's season.

The news comes as a blow to Italy's Six Nations campaign – they have suffered three defeats from three outings, with a trip to Paris and a visit from Scotland yet to come.

But there was some good news for Italy lock Carlo Del Fava, who was cited for kneeing Wales fly-half Stephen Jones in the head early in the match in Cardiff.

The committee was “not satisfied, on the balance of probabilities, that the player committed the alleged act of foul play” and therefore dismissed the citing.

Bergamasco has the right of appeal.