France hooker Peato Mauvaka avoided a red card during his side’s final Six Nations clash of the year on Saturday after headbutting Scotland star Ben White. The 28-year-old was sent to the sin-bin after diving towards White while the scrum-half was lying on the ground next to the tryline.

The incident was reviewed and referee Matthew Carley opted against upgrading the yellow card to a red after explaining there was not a “high degree of danger” in the challenge. Scotland were losing 10-0 when the incident took place after Yoram Moefana had crossed for the opening try of the evening. The visitors hit back through Darcy Graham to reduce France’s lead to 16-13 at the break. But the home side kicked on after the interval, with Louis Bille-Biarrey and Thomas Ramos putting them out of sight. And Moefana added his second try late on as France secured a 35-16 victory to clinch the Six Nations title.

A host of former players spoke out about the headbutt but couldn’t agree on the correct course of action, with ex-prop Peter Wright explaining on Sportsound: “That’s a headbutt. That’s foul play, he’s lunged at him.

“That for me is foul play – red card. It’s not in a tackle. The whistle has been blown. He should be off for the rest of the game. It’s out and out foul play.”

Former lock Jim Hamilton was convinced Mauvaka would be given his marching orders as he told ITV: “Mauvaka’s yellow is 100 per cent going to get upgraded to a red card. It’s something violent and physical and I doubt we will see him back on the field.”

But ex-centre Scott Hastings insisted the referee had ultimately made the correct call as he explained: “That is the right decision.

“Mauvaka had an opportunity to stop, but he has thrown himself into Ben White. It’s a yellow card. On a rugby field, you can’t do that.”

Former back row Johnnie Beattie was in agreement with Wright and Hamilton as he waded into the debate at half time. “You can’t fly across the ground and headbutt someone,” Beattie explained. “We do not want to see that in our sport.

“Ramos starts the entire thing, and Mauvaka lunging at someone head first – he is very lucky that hasn’t been upgraded to a red card.”

Scotland had seen their faint hopes of lifting the Six Nations trophy ended ahead of the match after England and Ireland had both secured victories earlier in the day. But they still had the opportunity to deny their hosts the title at the Stade de France.

Despite their gallant first half effort, Scotland were blown away in the second half as Bille-Biarrey crossed the whitewash for the hosts before Ramos touched down for France’s third try of the night. Moefana then grabbed his second try of the match to put the game to bed.

The result saw France claim the maximum points on offer as they finished their Six Nations campaign as title winners for the first time since 2022. England, who had thrashed Wales 68-14 earlier in the day, ended the tournament in second place after winning four of their five matches.