Masi attended the disciplinary hearing in London

Italy full-back Andrea Masi has been handed a three-week ban for a dangerous tackle on Ireland's Robert Kearney.

Masi received a yellow card for the challenge in the opening minute of his side's 38-9 defeat in Rome.

The suspension rules the Biarritz back out of Italy's game against Scotland at Murrayfield on 28 February.

But Masi, who attended the hearing in London in front of an independent three-man panel, will be available for Italy's match with Wales on 14 March.

Kearney, who has been widely tipped to feature in this summer's Lions tour, was uninjured by the tackle, which sparked a brief confrontation between the two sets of players.

Ireland lead the Six Nations table on points difference from Wales, with both sides having won their opening two matches.

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