Cornish Pirates joint-head coach Alan Paver has received a six-match ban after admitting to slapping Worcester Warriors player Jake Garside during a Championship match. Paver was sent off in the final minutes of Saturday's game, which Pirates lost 29-7 at Mennaye Field in Penzance. The confrontation reportedly began when Worcester's Will Reed intervened to stop a Pirates player taking a penalty.

Paver entered the field and slapped Garside. The disciplinary panel initially proposed a 12-game ban but reduced it by 50% due to Paver's admission and clean disciplinary record. The six-match ban means he will miss the Pirates' remaining regular-season fixtures and the first play-off round if they qualify for the top six. If they don't reach the play-offs, the ban covers the first pre-season game.

Under the ban, he cannot be with the team an hour before any match.