Three Premiership players suspended over Covid-19 breach

Bath duo Jonathan Joseph and Elliott Stooke along with Wasps' Gabriel Oghre have been handed suspensions by the Rugby Football Union following a breach in Covid-19 protocols.

All the three players appeared before an independent disciplinary panel of RFU and was charged with breach of RFU Rule 5.12 that deals with 'conduct prejudicial to the interests of the union and/or game'.

As a result, Joseph was handed a two-week suspension while his club team-mate Stooke and Wasps' Oghre are banded for three weeks.

A statement released by Bath Rugby confirmed that Stooke "drove home a member of another household at the end of the evening and was issued a further sanction by the club disciplinary committee:"

"Bath Rugby reported this to the RFU and kept the RFU updated through the investigation and disciplinary process," added the statement.

"The independent disciplinary panel considered the sanctions that Bath Rugby had put in place but determined further sanctions which see Joseph given an additional one-week suspension, while Stooke was given an additional two-week suspension.

"This means Joseph is free to play again on 16 February 2021 and Stooke is free to play again on 23 February 2021".

Both Joseph and Stooke will miss Bath's Premiership games against Harlequins and Sale Sharks with the latter set to be unavailable for the 19th February game against Gloucester due to the additional week ban. Meanwhile, Oghre will not be available for the upcoming games against Worcester and Leicester.