Azzurri blow as Parisse to miss rest of Six Nations after insulting referee

Italy captain Sergio Parisse will miss the rest of this season’s RBS 6 Nations Championship after being banned for insulting a referee.

The Stade Francais number eight landed a 40-day punishment from French league disciplinary chiefs yesterday — 10 days of which were suspended — following his sending off in Stade’s game against Bordeaux-Begles last weekend.

He will miss Italy’s game against Wales in Rome on Saturday, plus appointments with England and Ireland next month.