Thursday Afternoon Round Up

Ugalde handed 14-week suspension

Brive back Matthieu Ugalde has been suspended for 14 weeks after he was found guilty of eye gouging Grenoble's Armand Batlle.

"For me it wasn't a gouge, it was a closed fist," said Ugalde discussing the incident after the match.

He is free to play from January 2, 2017.

Hernandez out for a month for Argentina

Argentina star Juan Martin Hernandez will be out of action for a month after sustaining a knee injury.

As a result, he has been left out of coach Daniel Hourcade's 30-man squad ahead of their upcoming match against New Zealand in Buenos Aires on October 1 after Pumas team doctor Guillermo Botto confirmed that he will undergo surgery on his meniscus.

See Argentina 30-man squad here

Tomas Francis banned 2 weeks

Exeter prop Tomas Francis has been banned for two weeks after pleading guilty to a kicking charge.

The Wales international picked up a red card during Saturday's 36-25 win over Harlequins for kicking scrum-half Danny Care and making contact with the head.

The 24-year-old will miss the Premiership games with Bristol and Northampton and be available again on 3 October.

Wallabies squad for SA & Argentina Tests

Wallabies Head Coach Michael Cheika has named a 30-man squad to tour South Africa and England, for Tests against the Springboks and Argentina.

There are two uncapped players in the 30-man group with Rebels flyer Sefa Naivalu eligible for national selection after fulfilling his three-year residency requirement, while Waratahs hooker Tolu Latu has worked his way into the squad.

See full squad here

Falcons agree permanent deal to sign Fred Burdon

Newcastle Falcons have agreed a permanent deal to sign centre Fred Burdon following a successful trial spell with the club.

The 26-year-old came through the Falcons' academy and played for Cambridge University, where he graduated with a first class honours degree in chemistry and played in the Varsity Match against Oxford University at Twickenham.

Conor Mitchell signs with Aussie 7s

Queensland Country Forward, Conor Mitchell has signed for the Australian Men’s Sevens squad as they begin preparations for the 2016-2017 HSBC Sevens World Series.

The young Queenslander joins the national squad after an impressive season for Queensland Country in the Buildcorp NRC and with his previous experience as a wider squad member with the Aussie Sevens.