Dragons flanker Taine Basham banned for four games

Dragons and Wales flanker Taine Basham has been handed a four-game ban following his red card incident in the recently concluded United Rugby Championship game against Leinster.

Basham was sent-off in the 65th minute of the encounter at Rodney Parade for a dangerous tackle on Leinster and Ireland fly-half Ross Byrne. Four minutes later, Dragons also lost Matthew Screech to sin-bin as the Welsh province succumbed to a 10-33 defeat.

The 24-year-old was initially handed a six-week ban that was reduced by two taking into account the mitigating factors. He will now miss the upcoming game against Ospreys and matches against South African clubs Sharks and Lions.

Basham will also miss the opening European fixture against Oyonnax.

"It was very silly from Taine. He wants to be a top-end player, but that wasn't good enough and top-end players don't do things like that," said Flanagan.

"Emotion and anger gets the better of people but it's hard to defend him after an action like that.

"We know that he's better than that and we have to help him through this."