Referee push earns Rapava Ruskin six-week ban

Val Rapava Ruskin has played his last game for Worcester Warriors after the prop was banned for six weeks for pushing a referee.

Rapava Ruskin was cited for shoving match official Greg Garner in the back with both hands during Worcester’s 16-14 defeat at Newcastle Falcons last Friday.

The Georgia-born 24-year-old, who will join Gloucester at the end of the Premiership season, has been suspended until September 4.

A Rugby Football Union disciplinary panel stated: “The panel heard from the player and after carefully considering all of the available evidence, found that this was at the lower end of seriousness for this type of offending.

“The panel imposed a sanction of six weeks which reflects the seriousness of making contact with a referee or any match official.”

Warriors director of rugby Gary Gold last month claimed Rapava Ruskin is on standby for England’s tour of Argentina.

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