Ben Flower: Death threats made against Wigan prop being investigated

Flower received six-month ban for punching Lance Hohaia

Ben Flower arrives at his disciplinary hearing in Leeds (Reuters)

Police are investigating death threats made against Wigan prop Ben Flower, who was yesterday banned for six months after punching Lance Hohaia as he lay on the ground.

Flower was sent off in Saturday's Super League Grand Final and was on Tuesday found guilty of a Grade F offence, the most severe charge in the sport.

A series of abusive statements were made on Twitter, with one comment stating that Flower's "last days are approaching".

Other messages said that Flower "deserves to be shot" adding that he was a "dead man".

Greater Manchester Police tweeted: "We've been made aware of abusive social media activity about the Rugby League Grand Final. Please be reassured that we are looking into this."

The ban represents the longest handed out in Super League history.