The fall-out from Spain's World Cup qualifier against Belguim continues as Five Spain players have been suspended by Rugby Europe for confronting referee Vlad Iordachescu after the final whistle during the controversial tie.
An independent committee issued the bans with scrum-halves Sébastien Rouet and Guillaume Rouet receiving a 43-week suspension and 36-week suspension respectively for physical abuse of a Match Official and verbal abuse.
Pierre Barthere, Lucas Guillaume and Mathieu Belie have all been suspended for 14 weeks for their part in the incident.
The bans come after Spain missed out on an automatic qualification place for the Rugby World Cup in controversial circumstances after they suffered a shock 18-10 loss away to Belgium in the Rugby Europe Championship.
The Spanish players were extremely unhappy with the standard of officiating during the game and swarmed the Romanian referee after the final whistle. The result had meant Romania would progress, with Georgia already qualified from Europe's tier two tournament.
World Rugby confirmed last month they are looking at replaying the World Cup qualifier between Spain and Belguim, depending on an investigation into 'eligibility issues.'
