Although the punishment, reduced from a 12-week ban on account of his previous good behaviour, would rule the 27-year-old out of the Six Nations, London Irish have indicated they will fight the decision.

That could result in a longer ban but a London Irish statement revealed their displeasure with the verdict.

It said: "Delon Armitage will be issuing an appea. Having been given just 48 hours notice of the charges and the hearing, Delon hopes to be given a proper opportunity to prepare his case in order that the appeal panel may reach a decision which takes into account the circumstances of the incident.

"Delon does not accept that the incident is analogous to abuse of a match official and he believes that applying a tariff to on-field offences, when this was an incident largely in the privacy of the dressing room, has resulted in the imposition of a disproportionate sanction."