Five Catalans Dragons players have been suspended in the initial fall-out from Saturday’s controversial Super League clash against Warrington in Perpignan.
The French club won the top-five fixture 30-10 but the game was marred by an all-out brawl on the pitch and a major crowd disturbance off it.
Referee James Child brandished two red cards and four yellows throughout the 80 minutes and attempted to calm tempers as fighting broke out in one of the stands.
The English Rugby Football League has handed the crowd misconduct case to a compliance investigator and, in the meantime, its match-review panel has handed out punishment to players involved in foul play during and at the end of the game.
Catalans’ England full-back Sam Tomkins, one of the players to be sent off, has received the heaviest punishment, a three-match penalty notice for punching Warrington’s Australian winger Jake Mamo during the brawl.
Second rower Kenny Edwards, who appeared to make gestures to fans at the height of the crowd trouble, was given a grade C charge of “other contrary behaviour” which normally carries a ban of two to three matches.
Dragons’ former Parramatta Eels and Manly Sea Eagles centre Brayden Williame was given a one-match penalty for a dangerous throw on Warrington stand-off Blake Austin early in the game and prop Mickael Simon was handed one match for a head-butt on Wolves captain Chris Hill.
Catalans hooker Michael McIlorum, who was the other player to be sent off for a high tackle on Sitaleki Akauola in the last minute of the match, was given a one-match penalty notice for a grade B offence.
Winger Tom Lineham was the only Warrington player to be banned. He was given a one-match penalty notice for a grade A offence of striking NSW-born Samisoni Langi with his shoulder.
Hill, who was sin-binned in the first half along with McIlorum for punching, and Mamo, who received a second yellow card for use of his head, were both told they will face no further action.
Lineham will miss Warrington’s home game on Thursday against leaders St Helens, a dress rehearsal for the Challenge Cup final, while the Catalans quintet are set to sit out Friday’s visit to Leeds.
In addition McIlorum was given a caution for ripping the headguard off Hill and the panel also handed out cautions to Lineham, Edwards and Catalans winger David Mead for running into the brawl.