Leicester Tigers’ Tom Youngs handed three-week suspension after accepting RFU charge

Youngs was deemed to have hit the head of Exeter Chiefs’ lock Ollie Atkins in a ruck and was sent off by referee Tom Foley

Tom Youngs walks off the pitch after being shown a red card (Getty)

Leicester Tigers and England hooker Tom Youngs has been suspended for three matches after accepting a charge by the Rugby Football Union of dangerous play.

Youngs was deemed to have hit the head of Exeter Chiefs’ lock Ollie Atkins in a ruck and was sent off by referee Tom Foley.

The 32-year-old faced a disciplinary panel on Wednesday evening, which found that his early admission of guilt and “off-field mitigating factors” should reduce his punishment from a typical six weeks to three.

Panel chair Philip Evans QC said: “The player accepted the charge and the facts as alleged including having made contact with his opponents head. The panel found the appropriate starting point was 6 weeks (mid-range).

“Given his early plea of guilty, his candid evidence to the panel, obvious remorse, playing record and personal mitigation including off-field mitigating factors, exceptionally, the panel felt able to reduce the period of suspension by 3 weeks.”

The ruling means Youngs will miss Leicester’s upcoming Rugby Premiership games against Newcastle, Bristol and Harlequins as they fight to avoid relegation.