Mike Brown’s Quins career over after six-week ban

Mike Brown’s Harlequins career is over after he was given a six-week ban for stamping.

Brown was sent off for treading on the head of Tommy Taylor four minutes into the second half of Sunday’s dramatic 48-46 Premiership victory over Wasps at Twickenham Stoop.

A disciplinary hearing decided that the accidental stamp warranted a high-end sanction of 12 weeks, which was reduced to six because of his unblemished disciplinary record and admission of guilt.

Even if Harlequins reach the Premiership play-offs, Brown, who joins Newcastle when his contract expires, will not be involved with only four rounds of the regular season left.

A statement from the panel said: “The Panel reviewed extensive video footage which included numerous angles and speeds and heard direct evidence from the player as to his actions and intentions. Having considered the totality of the evidence the Panel was satisfied that whilst this was a stamp to the head, it was not deliberate.

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“Given the location of the contact and the nature of the actions the Panel considered that this was a top-end entry point but that there was no reason to go above the starting point of 12 weeks.

“The player has an unblemished disciplinary record over a long and illustrious career, he accepted the charge at the earliest opportunity and impressed the Panel with his honesty and obvious contrition throughout the hearing. The Panel had no hesitation in allowing the maximum mitigation of 50%.

“The Panel would encourage supporters of the game to avoid viewing this as nothing more than a brief video on social media which does not capture the full nature of the incident.”

Elsewhere, Bath’s Tom Dunn has also received a suspension after his red card against Bristol Bears on Saturday.

The hooker was sent off for making contact with the head of Semi Radradra in the 40-20 loss and has duly been banned for four weeks.