OXFORD University scrum half Sam Egerton has been handed a 15-week suspension by the Rugby Football Union.

At a meeting of the disciplinary panel in Coventry last night, Egerton pleaded guilty to a charge of making contact with the eye(s) or eye area of an opponent contrary to Law 10.4 (m) during the Varsity Match against Cambridge at Twickenham last Thursday.

Egerton became the first player to be sent off in the 141-year history of the competition.

Oxord won the game 33-15 despite losing Egerton for most of the second half after the incident with Light Blues flanker Nick Viljoen.

He will be suspended from December 12 to March 26 and will be free to resume playing on March 27. The hearing was held at the Coventry M6 Holiday Inn Hotel before a panel comprising His Honour Judge Sean Enright (chairman), Andrew Lockhart QC and Peter Howard. The scrum half, a law student, apologised via captain John Carter immediately after the match.

Carter said: “Sam told me if wasn’t meant with any malice and was accidental.” An Oxford Unversity RFC spokesman said they will not be taking any further action and now consider the matter closed.