FORMER Worcester Warriors lock Will Spencer has been banned for four weeks after being sent off in Leicester Tigers’ defeat at Wasps on Sunday.

The 26-year-old second row pleaded not guilty to a dangerous tackle charge at an RFU disciplinary hearing last night.

But having gone through all the evidence the panel described Spencer’s tackle on Wasps hooker Tommy Taylor as “reckless” and said it “resulted in direct, forceful contact to the head”.

Spencer joined Tigers from Warriors this summer. But he will miss Leicester’s clash with Worcester at Welford Road on Sunday (3pm) as he is not free to play again until Tuesday, October 16.

Panel chair Euan Ambrose said: “The panel considered carefully the oral evidence of the player, the written evidence of Tommy Taylor and the Wasps medical report, alongside the video footage and found on the balance of probabilities that this was a reckless tackle that resulted in direct, forceful contact to the head of Tommy Taylor.

“The panel rejected the player’s evidence that any contact with the opposition player had been limited to the top of his shoulder with no contact being made to his head.

“Given that finding, the mandatory mid-range entry point was applied.

“The player was given credit for his previous clear record, his conduct both at the hearing and his acceptance of the on-field decision and his off-field references which reduced the sanction to four weeks.

“He was not eligible for the full credit due to his not guilty plea. He is free to play again on October 16, 2018.”