Tuilagi picks up five-week ban

Rugby:Leicester centre Manu Tuilagi has received a five-week ban for punching Northampton wing Chris Ashton during last Saturday's Aviva Premiership play-off clash at Welford Road.

The suspension rules England World Cup candidate Tuilagi out of Tigers' Premiership final appointment with Saracens on May 28th.

He will also miss England Saxons' entire Churchill Cup campaign next month, which would have provided a shop window for him prior to England's World Cup warm-up Tests in August.

The ban starts on Thursday and expires on June 23rd. Tuilagi admitted the charge.

Tuilagi (20) on Wednesday, appeared before a three-man Rugby Football Union disciplinary panel in central London after being cited for punching England star Ashton. Both players were sin-binned by referee Wayne Barnes.

The RFU revealed tonight that Tuilagi's case had been dealt with as a top level entry point.

But an initial 10-week ban was reduced by 50 per cent due to provocation - namely, an Ashton push - the governing body said.

Tuilagi aimed three punches at Ashton, the latter a crunching right hook that left Northampton's prolific try-scorer requiring stitches to a cut near his left eye.

Tuilagi was subsequently reported by independent citing officer Alan Mansell, and he must now sit out Leicester's bid for an eighth Premiership title in a repeat of last season's final.

The provocation line is likely to stun Ashton and the Northampton club, as he appeared to do little wrong.

Speaking today before the ban was imposed, Saints rugby director Jim Mallinder said: "Without doubt, I would expect him (Tuilagi) to be banned for a period of time.

"Rugby's a tough, hard and physical game, but you can't have that going on for a fourth team down an old boys club or a Premiership semi-final in the spotlight."

Barnes brandished yellow cards at both players following a discussion with his assistant Robin Goodliffe, although Goodliffe's version of events did not appear to tally with the vast majority of people in the ground.

Had Tuilagi received a 10-week ban, then it would have threatened his availability for the August games against Wales (home and away) and Ireland.

England manager Martin Johnson has to announce his New Zealand-bound World Cup squad by the cut-off date of August 22nd.