DONCASTER Knights director of rugby Brett Davey has been handed a six-week touchline ban, suspended for two years, by a Rugby Football Union (RFU) Disciplinary Panel.
The Welshman, believed to be on ‘gardening leave’ while his future at the Championship club is resolved following the recent arrival of Clive Griffiths, made a personal appearance to answer charges that he verbally abused a match official, conduct prejudicial to the interests of the Union or the game (contrary to Law 5.12) in the RFU Championship fixture between Knights and Bedford Blues at Castle Park on Friday November 9.
Second-placed Blues claimed the spoils (22-21) with a converted try in the dying seconds of a game during which prop Tom Davies was sin-binned just before the winning try in the tenth minute of stoppage time.
Davey, who pleased guilty to the charge, had been critical of the referee’s appointment prior to the game given that he had sent Adam Kettle off in the first half in the big defeat against Leeds at Headingley earlier in the season.
No costs were ordered.