Rugby:Leicester scrumhalf Ben Youngs has been suspended for a week by a Rugby Football Union disciplinary hearing after pleading guilty to striking London Irish forward Jamie Gibson with his knee.

Youngs was cited following the incident in Tigers’ 41-32 Aviva Premiership win at the Madejski Stadium on March 25, and his club suspended him for one week after an internal hearing.

That saw him miss Friday’s win over Worcester, but his RFU ban will run alongside his Leicester suspension, meaning he will be free to play from Thursday and is available for the remainder of the Tigers’ title run-in.

An RFU statement said: “Ben Youngs of Leicester Tigers was this afternoon suspended for one week after pleading guilty to striking London Irish’s Jamie Gibson with his knee, contrary to Law 10(4)(a), during the Aviva Premiership match at the Madejski Stadium on March 25th.”