Italy flanker Mauro Bergamasco's ban for eye gouging has been increased to 17 weeks by the Six Nations Championship.

Bergamasco was suspended for 13 weeks in February by an independent citing commissioner after being found guilty of deliberately placing his finger in the eye of Wales full-back Lee Byrne during Italy's 47-8 defeat in Cardiff.

He lost an appeal and has now had the ban extended by four weeks.

However, the ban's start date has been moved back from March 3 to February 26.

The Stade Francais forward can resume playing in July.

Reuters