France lock Sebastien Vahaamahina has been suspended for six weeks for his red card in the World Cup quarter-final defeat by Wales last week.
France were leading 19-10 in Oita, Japan when Vahaamahina elbowed Wales forward Aaron Wainwright in the face and was sent off.
The French were reduced to 14 men and went on to lose the match 20-19.
Vahaamahina admitted to the act of foul play, accepting that the offence warranted a red card.
"Vahaamahina will miss his next six matches with his club Clermont Auvergne," World Rugby said in a statement. "Therefore the player is free to play again on December 16, 2019."
Didn’t miss him#WALvFRA #RWC2019 pic.twitter.com/3GbdPee0pB
— Steve Lenthall (@steve_l15) October 20, 2019
Although the entry point for punishment was 10 weeks, the committee reduced it by four weeks after Vahaamahina acknowledged his conduct and apologised to Wainwright.
The 28-year-old Vahaamahina announced his international retirement after France were knocked out of the World Cup.
