Italian prop forward Salvatore Perugini has been hit with a 20-week ban for his head-butt on Peter Stringer at Lansdowne Road last Saturday.
Perugini was summoned to appear before a three-man committee in Dublin today after being cited by independent citing commissioner Russell Howell. The Irish team management had been reluctant to cite the Italian, preferring to let the matter rest.
After reviewing video evidence of the incident, which clearly shows the Italian striking the Irish scrum-half with his head, the committee decided on a 20-week ban.
The L’Aquila prop, who inexplicably was not shown a red-card at the time, has 48 hours to appeal against the suspension.
