Davies: Has received a seven-week ban

Davies was sin-binned for the reckless tackle on Ireland forward Donnacha Ryan during the 23-21 - with Wales coach Warren Gatland later admitting the 25-year-old had been lucky to avoid a red card.

Davies, though, was not so fortunate when he appeared before an independent Six Nations disciplinary panel in London on Wednesday - with the Cardiff Blues lock now ruled out the rest of the tournament.

A three-man disciplinary panel decided that Davies' offence merited a top-end entry point of a 10-week ban, with an additional two weeks applied for this type of foul play.

But mitigating factors - Davies' guilty plea, his previously good disciplinary record and his conduct at the hearing - saw a maximum reduction to the punishment of five weeks imposed.

Davies, 25, was cited by match commissioner, Italian Achille Reali, following the second-half incident at the Aviva Stadium.

Referee Wayne Barnes brandished a yellow card on the recommendation of his assistant Dave Pearson, but television replays revealed the full extent of Davies' actions, which should have undoubtedly warranted a straight red.

Even Wales coach Warren Gatland admitted that Davies was fortunate to avoid being sent off, so his ban should come as no surprise to a Welsh camp currently preparing for next Sunday's Six Nations appointment with Scotland in Cardiff.

The Six Nations disciplinary committee, chaired by Antony Davies (England) along with John Doubleday (England) and Jean-Noel Couraud (France),

considered the citing report, television footage and listened to Davies' explanation.

In a statement, the Six Nations said: "They (the committee) found that the incident in which the player lifted his opponent beyond a horizontal position but did not bring him to the ground safely contrary to Law 10.4(j) and the IRB's (International Rugby Board's) particular emphasis on this aspect of the game, merited a top end entry to the IRB's table of sanctions.

"The committee applied an additional two weeks to the entry point of 10 weeks to reflect the need for a deterrent for this type of foul play.

"But, in mitigation, took account of various factors in the player's favour, including his admission of guilt, his previous good disciplinary record and his conduct at the hearing in allowing the maximum possible reduction of five weeks.

"Bradley Davies can resume playing on 26 March 2012, and has the right of appeal."