Exeter Chiefs prop Harry Williams suspended for two weeks

Exeter Chiefs will miss the services of prop Harry Williams for the next two games after he was handed a suspension following his red-card incident during the recently concluded Gallagher Premiership game against Saracens at Sandy Park last weekend.

The 28-year-old was replaced in the 67th minute after a head injury but went on to involve in a 25-man brawl coming from the sidelines after heated argument between Duncan Taylor and Nic White which forced referee Wayne Barnes to red-card Williams.

Williams appeared before independent judicial officer Richard Whittam QC and was proved guilty of the charges. He was initially handed a four-week ban that was reduced into half taking into account his guilty plea and other mitigating factors.

"Richard Whittam QC assessed the action as attracting a low-end entry point for 'other' behaviour in the sanction table in Annex 2 to Regulation 19. He did not strike another player and no one was injured as a result of his actions," read a statement from Premiership Rugby.

"He apologised to the referee immediately after the match and accepted the charge in advance of the hearing.

"In those circumstances the 4 week sanction was reduced to one of 2 weeks."

As a result, Williams will now miss the upcoming Premiership game against London Irish and Heineken Champions Cup encounter against Glasgow Warriors and will be free to resume playing from 14th January.