Tom Lineham: Warrington Wolves winger given eight-game ban for testicle grab
- Published
Tom Lineham will serve the first game of his ban in Saturday's Challenge Cup quarter-final against St Helens
Warrington winger Tom Lineham has been banned for eight games after being found guilty of grabbing the testicles of an opponent.
Lineham, 27, was charged with a Grade F offence for his challenge on Alex Foster during last Thursday's Super League win over Castleford.
He contested the charge but a Rugby Football League disciplinary hearing on Tuesday ruled it was correct.
Meanwhile, Hull KR's Jordan Abdull has been banned for two matches.
The half-back pleaded guilty to a similar charge following a challenge on St Helens forward James Bentley.
Abdull was charged with a Grade D offence, which carries a ban of three to five matches, but the tribunal downgraded it to a Grade C offence. Both Lineham, who will miss Saturday's Challenge Cup quarter-final against St Helens, and Abdull were also fined £500.
A Grade F offence, like that faced by Lineham, is the most serious on the RFL's scale of "other contrary conduct" and carries a minimum eight-game ban.
St Helens and England winger Tommy Makinson was suspended for five matches for a similar offence last month, although his initial Grade F charge was downgraded.
Meanwhile, St Helens centre Kevin Naiqama will be free to face Warrington in the last eight after having a two-match ban overturned.
The 31-year-old had been found guilty of a Grade C high tackle on Kane Linnett late on in Friday's 21-20 Super League win over Hull KR.
The club successfully appealed against the grading of the offence, which was downgraded to a Grade A infringement.
Naiqama's ban has been quashed and he will instead face a £500 fine.
Elsewhere, Leeds second rower Alex Sutcliffe accepted his two-match suspension for a dangerous tackle and team-mate Brad Dwyer and Castleford loose forward Adam Milner accepted their one-game bans for Grade B offences.
Sutcliffe and Dwyer will both miss Leeds' quarter-final against Hull KR at St Helens on Friday.