Leicester fullback suspended after swearing incident

NEWS: Leicester Tigers’ fullback Mike Brown was handed a suspension of two weeks for swearing at match officials following his red card in their 19-21 home defeat by Bristol Bears.

The 38-year-old Brown was sent off in the 71st minute of the game after a head clash and received a five-week ban, three suspended to the end of the season.

Brown - who admitted to the charge of conduct prejudicial to the interests of the game by disrespecting the authority of the match officials - will miss the Premiership game against the Sale Sharks on May 10.

An independent panel found that Brown had sworn as he left the pitch at Welford Road and that they were satisfied he "intended to be disrespectful about all the match officials".

The adjudication further stated: "Such offending is a direct undermining of the authority of the match officials and an attack on the game's ethos and core values."

In addition to the suspension, Brown must also give "a presentation on the values of the game which is to be recorded and shared for educational use and to help demonstrate why such behaviour will not be tolerated in rugby”.