Betsen - reckless (Getty Images).
SIX-WEEK BAN FOR FRENCH ACE
By PA International staff
France flanker Serge Betsen has been banned from all rugby for six weeks after
being found guilty of kicking England scrum-half Matt Dawson in Sunday's World
Cup semi-final.
He was cited after the match and International Rugby Board judicial officer
Terry Willis, an Australian, decided that punishment was necessary.
England won the match 24-7 to advance to Saturday's final, where they will
face hosts Australia.
Willis accepted Betsen had not deliberately kicked Dawson in the incident
which happened just before half-time, but judged that his actions were
reckless.
Betsen had sent a letter to Dawson, apologising for the incident, and while
Willis took that into consideration when deciding what punishment to mete out,
the judicial officer insisted that the French player should not escape a ban.
The suspension will rule Betsen out of action until December 29, meaning he
will miss matches for his club side Olympique Biarritz.
He was not included in the France squad for Thursday's third-place play-off
against New Zealand.
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