Foot-stomping Coombs banned

Andrew Coombs, the Newport Gwent Dragons lock forward, has been banned for three weks - after being found guilty of stomping on an opponent.

Coombs appeared before an independent Pro12 disciplinary committee in Dublin, having been cited for a nstamp on an opponent's head in the match between the Dragons and Ospreys lastv Friday.

The disciplinary committee, chaired by Michael Coghlan, along with Philip Orr and George Spotswood (all Ireland), having viewed the footage and listened to representations made by and on behalf of the player, upheld the citing from the citing commissioner.

They found that the offence should be categorised in the mid-range of the IRB's sanctions, carrying an entry point of a five-week suspension.

In imposing a suspension of three weeks, the committee took into account the various mitigating factors - including the player's apology to his opponent and his previous good disciplinary record.

Coombs is free to resume playing on Monday, October 6 and has the right of appeal.