The Italy hooker Leonardo Ghiraldini won't play rugby for 15 weeks after admitting to making contact with Irish prop Cian Healy's eyes during their rugby World Cup Pool clash in Dunedin.
Ghiraldini maintains his actions were not deliberate but the IRB judicial officer didn't agree and said the offending was "at the top end".
Healy was penalised for retaliating after the incident in their 36-6 victory at Stadium Otago on Sunday, though television replays then showed Ghiraldini had touched Healy's eyes as the pair wrestled at the breakdown.
A general guildeline for eye gouging suggests a ban of 24 weeks but Ghiraldini's suspension was reduced to 15 because of the hooker's previously unblemished record.
