Ban ends Hamilton's tour hopes

Jim Hamilton is set to miss Scotland's summer tour after receiving a seven-week suspension.

A three-man Rugby Football Union panel have banned Gloucester lock Hamilton and London Irish hooker David Paice following their brawl during last Saturday's Aviva Premiership game between the clubs.

Paice also landed a seven-week punishment, while Hamilton is out of contention for Scotland's June schedule that includes Test matches against Australia, Fiji and Samoa.

Both players were shown yellow cards following an initial skirmish, and they were walking off the pitch together when Hamilton punched his opponent.

Paice, who required stitches in a head wound, reacted and Pearson had no option but to brandish red cards.

Hamilton's ban will run until August 19, ruling him out of the Scotland tour and Gloucester's warm-up games for next season.

Paice, meanwhile, is suspended from August 10 to September 23, meaning he will miss pre-season fixtures and up to four weekends of Premiership action.

"Hamilton's suspension runs until August 19, covering Scotland's warm-up and tour matches this summer, and warm-up games at the start of next season," said the RFU in a statement. "Paice's suspension runs from August 10 to September 23 next season.

"The panel of 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."