Mike Haley handed two-week suspension

Sale Sharks fullback Mike Haley has been banned for two weeks after he was cited for striking Josh Bassett in the recently concluded Aviva Premiership clash against Wasps in the previous round of the Aviva Premiership.

The incident happened in the closing stage of the game when the 23-year-old struck Bassett with his arm and was cited by the citing commissioner Shaun Gallagher for a breach of Law 9.12.

Haley appeared before a three-person independent disciplinary panel on Wednesday evening and pleaded guilty to the charges and hence his original ban of four weeks was reduced to half considering the mitigating factors.

"The player pleaded guilty to the charge and accepted that he had made contact with the head of an opponent," said the chair of the panel Gareth Graham.

"The panel were mandated to find this a mid-range entry point which carries a starting point of four weeks.

"The player pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity, apologised to the Wasps’ player and has a clear record therefore he was entitled to the maximum mitigation of 50%."

Haley will be free to play from 1st May 2018 and will miss the Aviva Premiership clashes against Newcastle Falcons and Exeter Chiefs.