Banned.

Leicester Tigers lock Will Spencer has been handed a four-week ban following his controversial red card during his side’s clash with Wasps in the Premiership over the weekend.

Spender was sent off for a shoulder hit to the head on Wasps flanker Tommy Taylor just before half-time that sparked a huge reaction online with a number of current and ex-pros slamming the decision.

After the game Leicester interim Head Coach Geordan Murphy claimed decisions like Spencer’s sending-off are ‘killing’ the game.

“I think the game’s gone a little too PC.” Murphy said.

“That for me is crazy. It’s rugby. Tommy Taylor was fine. Dai Young stood beside me, he seemed fine with it. There was no HIA. There was not real danger to the player.”

After appearing  before an independent disciplinary panel this evening, the panel, chaired by Euan Ambrose with John Doubleday and Mike Curling, upheld the charge and Spencer was given a four week suspension. He is free to play again on Tuesday 16 October 2018.

Panel chair Euan Ambrose said:

“The Panel considered carefully the oral evidence of the Player, the written evidence of Tommy Taylor and the Wasps medical report, alongside the video footage and found on the balance of probabilities that this was a reckless tackle that resulted in direct, forceful contact to the head of Tommy Taylor.

“The Panel rejected the Players evidence that any contact with the opposition Player had been limited to the top of his shoulder with no contact being made to his head. Given that finding, the mandatory mid-range entry point was applied. The Player was given credit for his previous clear record, his conduct both at the hearing and his acceptance of the on-field decision and his off-field references which reduced the sanction to four weeks. He was not eligible for the full credit due to his not guilty plea. He is free to play again on the 16 October 2018.”