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Italy's Faiva gets four-week ban for tackle on Sheehan

Hame Faiva was sent off in the 19th minute after this challenge.
Hame Faiva was sent off in the 19th minute after this challenge.

Italy hooker Hame Faiva has received a four-week ban for his red card in Sunday's Guinness Six Nations defeat to Ireland in Dublin.

Faiva, who came on for the injured Gianmarco Lucchesi, was sent off in the 19th minute of Italy's 57-6 loss for a high tackle on Dan Sheehan.

"The player had acted recklessly by committing a high and dangerous tackle whereby his shoulder had made direct contact with the neck of an opponent with significant force," the tournament's disciplinary committee said in a statement.

"On that basis, the Committee applied World Rugby's mandatory minimum mid-range entry point for foul play resulting in contact with the head."

Faiva, who has the right to appeal the decision, will miss Italy's remaining Six Nations matches against Scotland and Wales.

Italy are bottom of the standings after losing their first three games.

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Follow all of Ireland's Six Nations games via our live blogs on rte.ie/sport and on the RTÉ News App or listen to live radio coverage on RTÉ Radio 1. Watch live coverage of England v Ireland on Saturday 12 March (4.45pm) on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player.

Also, see live URC action this week with Ulster v Cardiff (Friday 4 March, 7pm) and Benetton v Leinster (Saturday 5 March, 12.30pm) live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player.

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