Brookes hit with two-week ban

Northampton Saints and England prop Kieran Brookes has been banned for two weeks for making contact with the head of Newcastle's Scott Lawson at Franklin's Gardens on Friday night.
Brookes was handed a red card by referee Andrew Jackson in the 38^th minute for his dangerous clearout at a ruck against his former team, Saints went on to lose 22-16.
The 26-year-old pleaded guilty to the offence and is free to play again on Tuesday December 13.
Newcastle lock Calum Green was also cited for striking Brookes with his forearm in the same match and he too pleaded guilty but was given a one-match ban rather than two for previous good behaviour.
Second-row Green can return to playing on Tuesday December 6, following the disciplinary hearing in Leeds on Monday.
The RFU Disciplinary panel, said: “Both of these cases were considered low end entry points by the panel however Kieran Brookes does not have a clean disciplinary record and so the panel did not feel able to reduce the sanction to one week as they could in the case of Calum Green.”