Byron McGuigan gets three-match ban

Sale utility back Byron McGuigan has been given a three-match suspension following his red card in the club’s Premiership defeat against Saracens last weekend.

McGuigan was sent off after he retaliated to Saracens’ centre Nick Tompkins’ taunting of him at a turnover by throwing Tompkins to the ground.

He appeared before a disciplinary committee on Tuesday, accepting the charge against him for reckless or dangerous play contrary to World Rugby Law 9.11.

His offence was deemed to be at the low end of the scale, so he will now miss Sale’s matches against the Ospreys and Clermont in European competition, and the Premiership match against Newcastle. He will be available for the visit of Wasps on New Year’s Day.