Leicester Tigers hooker Tom Youngs faces four-week suspension

Leicester Tigers hooker Tom Youngs has been suspended for four weeks following a foul play incident in the recently concluded Gallagher Premiership clash against Wasps.

Youngs was cited by the citing commissioner Andy Blyth for striking Wasps lock Will Rowlands as contrary to law World Rugby Law 9.12 and as a result appeared before a three-person disciplinary committee chaired by Jeremy Summers on Tuesday.

Panel chair Jeremy Summers said the 33-year-old accepted the charge but was not given full mitigation considering his past disciplinary record and now will miss Premiership games against Sale Sharks, Worcester Warriors, Saracens and Exeter Chiefs and will be free to resume playing from 25th March.

"The player may have been reacting to an unintended contact with his body but the reaction was nevertheless uncalled for," the independent disciplinary panel's chair Jeremy Summers said.

"The player accepted that it was one which let down the game.

"He has two previous matters on record from 2016 and 2019 - as such he was not eligible to receive full mitigation.

"A suspension of four weeks was therefore imposed. The dates of suspension take in to account a free weekend for Leicester Tigers on the 14-15 March."

Leicester Tigers are positioned 11th in the Gallagher Premiership table with three wins from 10 games.