Tom Youngs suspended for four weeks

David Skippers

Leicester Tigers hooker Tom Youngs was handed a four-week suspension after appearing before an independent disciplinary panel on Tuesday.

Youngs was cited by independent citing commissioner Andy Blyth following the match between Leicester Tigers and Wasps on Saturday for punching or striking Wasps’ Will Rowlands in the 53rd minute of the match, contrary to World Rugby Law 9.12.

The player accepted the charge and was given a four-week suspension by the independent panel comprising Jeremy Summers (chair) and Nick Garling. He is free to play again on Tuesday, March 24 2020.

Independent panel chair Summers said: “The player may have been reacting to an unintended contact with his body but the reaction was nevertheless uncalled for. The player accepted that it was one which let down the game.

“He has two previous matters on record from 2016 and 2019 as such he was not eligible to receive full mitigation. A suspension of 4 weeks was therefore imposed. The dates of suspension take in to account a free weekend for Leicester Tigers on the 14/15 March.”