Sale and England's Jonny Hill receives 10-week ban after physically abusing fan

Today at 10:59 AM

• Incident took place after playoff defeat in June
• Forward available to return from 7 December

The Sale and England forward Jonny Hill has received a 10-week ban – with four weeks suspended – after accepting a charge that he physically abused a spectator. Hill, who has not played for Sale this season, will be available from 7 December.

He appeared before an independent disciplinary panel for an alleged breach of the Rugby Football Union's rule 5.12 – conduct prejudicial to the interests of the game and/or Union – in that he was alleged to have physically abused a spectator after Sale's Premiership playoff defeat at Bath on 1 June. The RFU said Hill accepted the charge.