French forward Paul Gabrillagues's World Cup hopes were in the balance on Tuesday after he was banned for six weeks for a tackle on Scotland flanker John Barclay last weekend.

The 26-year-old second-row forward hit Barclay with his shoulder in the 16th minute of France's 32-3 win in Nice.

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The disciplinary hearing in London, ruled that "the foul play was intentional, the offense took place at considerable pace and with considerable force to the opposition's head such that the player sustained an injury."

The World Cup in Japan starts on September. The ban means that Grabrillagues, who has 13 caps for France, will be out until October 7. By that point France will have played three of their four pool matches with only the potentially pivotal game against England on October 12 in Yokohama remaining.

The French Rugby Federation are considering an appeal, vice-president Serge Simon told the AFP.

Last week, All Blacks lock Scott Barrett received a three-week ban for a shoulder charge into the face of Australian back row Michael Hooper on August 10.

@Agence France-Presse