England rugby union team James Haskell banned for England’s first two Six Nations games • Wasps flanker was sent off for tackle in Champions Cup defeat• France’s Bastareaud banned for three weeks for slur James Haskell of Wasps after being sent off in the European Champions Cup defeat last Sunday. Photograph: Khachfe/JMP/Rex/ShutterstockThe Wasps flanker James Haskell will be unavailable for England’s first two Six Nations games after receiving a four-week ban. The Toulon captain was cited following the European Champions Cup clash against the Italian side Benetton last Sunday. Bastareaud’s suspension, announced on Wednesday by EPCR, means he will miss France’s Six Nations opener against Ireland on 3 February. Bastareaud, who has won 42 caps, pleaded guilty to the offence, and he must also sit out Toulon’s win-or-bust Champions Cup against the Scarlets on Saturday.

Source: The Guardian January 17, 2018 15:55 UTC