Bundee Aki handed four-week suspension after being dropped from Six Nations squad

Bundee Aki has been suspended for six weeks for verbal abuse towards match officials last weekend.

The Connacht centre was cited following his side's defeat to Leinster in the URC on Saturday and appeared before a disciplinary panel yesterday.

It means Aki will miss the first three games of Ireland's Six Nations campaign.

The final two weeks of his ban have been suspended, meaning he could return before the end of the campaign.

Aki hasn't travelled as part of the Ireland squad for their pre-tournament camp in Portugal.

In further bad news for Ireland, Hugo Keenan is out of the opening game against France due to a thumb injury.

Keenan has not played this season, following hip surgery after the British and Irish Lions tour in Australia.