Wales captain Warburton handed three-game ban

Wales captain Sam Warburton will not take part in Friday's third place play-off after he was given a three-game ban for his dangerous tackle on Vincent Clerc.

The skipper was dismissed after just 18 minutes in yesterday's 9-8 semi-final defeat for lifting and dumping Clerc.

Independent judicial officer Christopher Quinlan has ruled that the actions of Irish referee Alan Rolland were justified.

There was no extended suspension handed out by the Englishman, as in line with IRB directives "there were no aggravating features and there were compelling on-field and/or off-field mitigating features".

Warburton can return to action from November 7.