Wales prop Tomas Francis hit with eight-week ban

Wales prop Tomas Francis has received an eight-week ban for making contact with the “eye or eye area” of England forward Dan Cole in last Saturday’s Six Nations game at Twickenham.

Francis, 23, appeared before an independent Six Nations disciplinary committee in London yesterday.

His suspension means he cannot play again until May 9, ruling him out of Wales’ Six Nations clash against Italy on Saturday — he had been named among the replacements — and the rest of his club Exeter’s season.