Six-week ban for Serge Betsen

France flanker Serge Betsen has been banned from all rugby for six weeks after being found guilty of kicking England scrum-half Matt Dawson in Sunday’s World Cup semi-final.

He was cited after the match and International Rugby Board judicial officer Terry Willis, an Australian, decided that punishment was necessary.

England won the match 24-7 to advance to Saturday’s final, where they will face hosts Australia.

Willis accepted Betsen had not deliberately kicked Dawson in the incident which happened just before half-time, but judged that his actions were reckless.

Betsen had sent a letter to Dawson, apologising for the incident, and while Willis took that into consideration when deciding what punishment to mete out, the judicial officer insisted that the French player should not escape a ban.

The suspension will rule Betsen out of action until December 29, meaning he will miss matches for his club side Olympique Biarritz.

He was not included in the France squad for Thursday’s third-place play-off against New Zealand.