Tigers wing May avoids ban for red card

Jonny May will not serve a suspension for his red card in Leicester Tigers’ defeat to Saracens on Christmas Eve.

The England wing was given his marching orders for a second deliberate knock-on 11 minutes from time in the Tigers’ 29-17 loss to the European champions at Welford Road.

May will be available to face Premiership champions Exeter Chiefs on New Year’s Eve, though, after a Rugby Football Union disciplinary ruled that the prolific flyer will face no further punishment.

“Leicester Tigers wing Jonny May is free to play immediately after an RFU disciplinary.” an RFU statement said.

“The charges against May were heard on papers by an Independent single Judicial Officer. The player was shown a red card after receiving two yellow cards – Law 10.4(m) – in the match between Leicester Tigers and Saracens on Sunday 24 December 2017.

“Both yellow cards were awarded for deliberate knock-ons. The first yellow card was issued in the ninth minute of the match and the second was issued in the 69th minute of the match.

“The sanction table set out at Appendix 1 to RFU Regulation 19 determines that the sanction for two yellow cards, where both are given for technical offences, is sending off sufficient.”