France's Mauvaka gets three-game ban for headbutt

France hooker Peato Mauvaka has been banned for three games for a headbutt on Scotland's Ben White during the Six Nations match in Paris.

The 28-year-old threw himself at the scrum-half while he was lying on the ground after 20 minutes of Saturday's match, at which point France led 10-0.

Referee Matthew Carley sent Mauvaka to the sin-bin, while review officer Ian Tempest reviewed the footage to determine if the punishment should be upgraded, but decided it would remain a yellow card.

However, the Toulouse hooker was cited for the incident and had the entry-level sanction reduced from six games to three for admitting foul play and a previously clean disciplinary record.

A three-person panel deemed he had breached Law 9.12 (A player must not… strike with any part of the arm, shoulder, head or knee(s)).

France won the match 35-16 to claim the Six Nations title.

After the match, Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend questioned why Mauvaka was able to return to to the pitch, with the officials at the time deeming the challenge not to have great force.

But Townsend pointed out force was irrelevant because it was an off-the-ball incident, not an errant tackle.

Mauvaka will miss Toulouse's Top 14 games against Bordeaux and Pau, as well as the Champions Cup last-16 tie with Sale Sharks.