Aviva Premiership
Hamilton and Paice hit with seven-week bans
ESPN Staff
May 10, 2012
Gloucester and London Irish come to blows, London Irish v Gloucester, Aviva Premiership, Madejski Stadium, Reading, England, May 5, 2012
Punches fly during an ill-tempered clash at the Madejski Stadium last weekend © Getty Images
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Players/Officials: Jim Hamilton | David Paice
Tournaments/Tours: Aviva Premiership

Gloucester's Jim Hamilton and London Irish's David Paice have both been suspended for seven weeks for their part in an ugly brawl during their Aviva Premiership clash last weekend.

Both players were sent off for "striking" during Irish's crushing 52-18 victory at the Madejski Stadium. The pair had already been sin-binned by referee Dave Pearson for exchanging punches, but when they traded blows again on the way to the touchline it sparked a mass confrontation and they were both shown red.

Hamilton's ban runs until August 19 and as a result the lock has been ruled out of Scotland's forthcoming Test clashes with Australia, Fiji and Samoa. Paice's suspension has been deferred until the start of next season and he will be banned from August 10 to September 23.

The disciplinary panel, featuring His Honour Judge Jeff Blackett (chair), Robert Horner and Jeff Probyn considered that both offences required, "top-end entry points because they were committed after the players had been issued yellow cards."

Both players have a right of appeal.

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