MATHEW Back has been bit by a 'substantial fine' after throwing his Worcester jersey to the floor in anger.

The former Welsh international's frustration got the better of him at Bedford on Saturday when he threw his shirt on the ground after being substituted by coach Adrian Skeggs.

The full-back has since apologised to the club following talks with Skeggs but has still been hit in the pocket for his actions.

Back is also axed from the side to face Manchester at Sixways on Saturday in National One (3pm), but Skeggs has insisted the two incidents are not linked.

He said: "Mathew accepts that what he did was unacceptable for a professional player and has since apologised for his actions.

"However, we felt that he should be fined because we need to make an example of this incident.

"He will be on the bench against Manchester but I must stress that it is not because of that incident, it is purely because we want to examine different options at full-back."

Those options include a dramatic re-think approaching the title showdown in Leeds on April 1.

With just the Manchester game before Worcester's trip to Headingley to face the second-placed team, Skeggs has decided to put Sateki Tuipulotu back at his old position of full-back.

Sixways' favourite Nick Baxter returns to the first team on the right-wing while Spencer Bromley continues on the left.

Andrea Moretti starts his first game at hooker since October with Andrew Lamerton's knee still causing him trouble while Chris Hall is also out with a trapped nerve.

Skipper Alistair Murdoch and the ever-improving Rudi Keil continue their centre partnership with Scott Barrow ruled out by a foot injury.

Tony Yapp again gets the nod over Earl Va'a at fly-half although the Samoan will play some part as a second-half substitute.

Team: Tuipulotu; Baxter, Murdoch, Keil, Bromley; Yapp, Simpson-Daniel; Windo, Moretti, Lyman, Sims, Zaltzman, Evans, Carter, Fryday. Subs: Pellow, Back, Va'a, Mather, Collins, Webster, Hall.