France centre Florian Fritz will miss Saturday's Six Nations rugby game against Scotland at the Stade de France after being handed a three-week suspension by a disciplinary committee in London.

The 22-year-old Toulouse back was found guilty of making contact with the eye area of Irish flanker Stephen Ferris following France's 30-21 defeat in the tournament opener in Dublin on Saturday.

The suspension will likely mean that Clermont's Benoit Baby will be in the starting line-up against the Scots with Maxime Mermoz replacing him on the bench.

Fritz will also miss France's next game against Wales in Paris on February 27, his suspension ending on March 2.

France manager Jo Maso said he was delighted the incident had not been described as "gouging." Maso told AFP: "He was not found guilty of gouging. I am delighted and overjoyed about that and heads can be held up high now that that awful charge has not been upheld.

"Of course this act done in the heat of the moment is regrettable but the image of French rugby has not been tarnished."

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