Pelous hit with nine-week ban

France captain Fabien Pelous will not play again this year after being handed a nine-week ban by an International Rugby Board disciplinary committee.

The 32-year-old second-row was cited by the IRB’s citing commissioner, Peter Brown, for using an elbow on Australia hooker Brendan Cannon in Saturday’s 26-16 victory over the Wallabies in Marseille.

The ban means Pelous will miss France’s games against Canada on Saturday and then South Africa on November 26, although he will be available for next year’s RBS 6 Nations competition.