Steve Diamond hit with six-week ban

Steve Diamond has been banned for six weeks for verbally abusing the match officials after Sale‘s Anglo-Welsh Cup game against Harlequins on February 3.
Diamond, who pleaded guilty, will serve three of those weeks immediately and the remaining three weeks will be suspended until the end of the 2019 season.
In addition, Diamond has been fined £3000, half of which is payable immediately and the rest again suspended until the end of the 2018/19 season.
Both suspended elements will be activated in the event of another similar offence.
Diamond will be suspended from entering the playing enclosure/technical area, approaching all match officials (directly or indirectly) and talking to the match officials both during and after the game, including at half time.
The RFU Disciplinary panel said: “The panel deprecates any abuse of match officials regardless of the circumstances. Such behaviour is contrary to the spirit of rugby and the core values of the game and will be treated seriously by disciplinary panels.”