Italy captain Sergio Parisse handed three-week ban and misses Tonga clash
Friday 1 November 2019 15:36, UK
Italy captain Sergio Parisse has been hit with a three-week ban and will miss Saturday's Test against Tonga.
Parisse, who earned an Italian record 121st cap in last weekend's 20-18 win over South Africa in Florence, has been sanctioned for an incident while playing with his French Top 14 club Stade Francais against Bordeaux on November 5.
Parisse was found guilty by the French club leagues of involuntarily hitting an opponent's face with his foot.
According to a short statement by the Italian rugby federation (FIR), Parisse "has been suspended for three weeks by Top 14 disciplinary officials. The Italy captain will miss Saturday's Test against Tonga."
Parisse became the first Italian to be nominated for the World Player of the Year award in 2013, and played the full match against as his nation secured their first ever win over the Springboks last weekend.
Italy coach Conor O'Shea announced his lineup for the Tonga Test on Tuesday, including Parisse, and made only one change to the team that stunned South Africa.
O'Shea will now announce a revised squad for the Tonga test on Thursday.
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