Sale Sharks coach Steve Diamond has been handed a six-week ban after he admitted verbally abusing match officials during an Anglo-Welsh Cup match earlier this month.

The incident occurred during Sale's victory over Harlequins on February 3, and Diamond will serve three weeks of his suspension immediately, with the remaining three suspended until the end of the 2018-19 campaign.

Diamond has also been fined £3,000, half of which will be suspended for the same period, and he will not be allowed to enter the technical area or talk to match officials.

The RFU Disciplinary panel said: "The panel deprecates any abuse of match officials regardless of the circumstances. 

"Such behaviour is contrary to the spirit of rugby and the core values of the game and will be treated seriously by disciplinary panels."