Wales defence coach Shaun Edwards has admitted that it is "no surprise" France captain Sergio Parisse is facing a long-term suspension.

The 29-year-old was dismissed while playing for his club Stade Francais last weekend, with the number eight in danger of missing the remainder of the Six Nations if he is found guilty of insulting the match referee.

"It's no surprise he has been done for speaking to refs, it's not something he hasn't done before," Edwards told reporters.

"Funnily enough, we were watching footage on Friday from the [Six Nations] game [against Italy] last year and you can clearly hear him on the ref's mic coming out with profanities in the ref's earshot about what damage he was going to do to one of our players if he did the same thing again.

"So, it's no surprise to me that he has been done for backchat to a referee."

Parisse has made 93 appearances for his country.