Olivier Azam given 12-week ban for Steve Borthwick boot

Olivier Azam has been banned for 12 weeks for kicking Steve Borthwick in the head.

Gloucester's hooker initially claimed he accidentally made contact with the Saracens skipper's face during a ruck in the match 10 days ago.

But Azam pleaded guilty to the charge at an RFU disciplinary panel last night and will now be banned until 28 December. The Frenchman had only just returned from a nineweek ban for eye-gouging and his latest penalty is at the top end of the possible sanctions for kicking an opponent.

Borthwick is hoping to return to action against Toulon in two weeks after tests at the Moorfields Eye Hospital confirmed his eye socket had not been fractured. The England skipper, who had five stitches in his wound, said: "I could see the stud coming towards my eye. I must has instinctively moved because it just missed my eyeball."

Gloucester lock Adam Eustace was also banned for three weeks by the RFU panel for stamping on Justin Marshall in the same match.