Rugby: Leicester hit Youngs with suspension

Leicester have suspended scrum-half Ben Youngs for a week after the England international was cited for allegedly striking an opponent.

Youngs, 22, will face a Rugby Football Union disciplinary hearing next week after being accused of striking London Irish number eight Jamie Gibson during the Tigers’ 41-32 Aviva Premiership victory at the Madejski Stadium on Sunday. During the incident Youngs appeared to drop his knee onto the forward before punching him, and RFU citing officer Wade Dooley decided he had a case to answer.

The RFU released a statement confirming: “Ben Youngs of Leicester Tigers will appear before an RFU Disciplinary Panel after being cited for striking London Irish’s Jamie Gibson contrary to Law 10(4)(a) during the Aviva Premiership match at the Madejski Stadium on 25 March, following a report by the match citing officer Wade Dooley.”

The Tigers provided their own statement confirming they had suspended Youngs, a try scorer in England’s Six Nations win over Ireland, for one week after an internal disciplinary hearing found him guilty of striking Gibson. It said: “Ben has been banned for one week and will not be available for Friday’s home game against Worcester Warriors.”