UTTOXETER winger Paul Milward has been banned for a year by the Rugby Football Union after being found guilty of spitting at a female spectator.
The 28-year-old was cited by Stourbridge Lions following a bad-tempered Midlands Three West (North) match at Oldfields in December.
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BANNED: Uttoxeter’s Paul Milward has been suspended by the RFU.
Milward, who pleaded not guilty, appeared before an RFU disciplinary panel at Coventry’s Holiday Inn hotel on Tuesday.
The three-man panel of Sean Enright, John Brennan and Geoff Payne issued a 12-month ban which will sideline Milward until next February.
An RFU statement read: “Milward was found guilty of conduct prejudicial to the interests of the Union and/or game contrary to Rule 5.12 of the RFU by spitting at a female spectator during the Midlands Three West (North) match against Stourbridge Lions on December 10, 2011.
“Milward will be free to play again on February 7, 2013.”
Uttoxeter chairman Glynne Wilson declined to comment when contacted by The Sentinel. Milward and the club have 14 days to appeal.
The match was abandoned in the second half after a fight broke out when Uttoxeter were leading 13-10.
Stourbridge claim their flanker, Adam Barrington, was assaulted and knocked unconscious.
The colt was taken to hospital suffering from concussion.
An RFU panel had previously ruled the result should stand at 0-0 and both Uttoxeter and Stourbridge were docked 15 points.
In addition to the immediate points deduction, a further 10-point penalty and £500 fine, suspended until January 14, 2014, was imposed on both clubs.
Neither club appealed against the decision.
Meanwhile, Uttoxeter’s tight-head prop Daniel Meads and full-back Chris Bassett remain the subjects of a police investigation.
It is understood that the RFU will deal with both players after the police have concluded their case.
A Staffordshire Police spokesman added: “We received a report on Monday, December 18, of an allegation of assault which happened at Oldfields Sports and Social Club in Springfield Road, Uttoxeter, on Saturday, December 10.
“Those investigations remain ongoing.
“Any witnesses who we have not yet spoken to should contact PC Dianne Hullah at Staffordshire Police on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.”
The points deduction has left Uttoxeter bottom of the table, two points adrift of Harborne and facing a desperate fight against relegation.
Uttoxeter, who are without a game this weekend, are due to play the reverse fixture at Stourbridge Lions on Saturday, March 31.
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