Max Crumpton: Harlequins hooker banned for three weeks for GJ van Velze incident

Max Crumpton has scored four tries in 15 appearances for Harlequins this season

Harlequins hooker Max Crumpton has been banned for three weeks after admitting to "punching or striking" Worcester's GJ van Velze on Saturday.

Crumpton accepted the charge brought by the independent disciplinary panel for the incident during Quins' 47-33 win.

The 26-year-old can return on 12 March, meaning he will miss league games against Bristol, Bath and Gloucester.

Panel chair Sean Enright said a "mid-range" punishment was mandatory because of the contact with the head.

But in a Rugby Football Union statement he added: "The panel agreed that the player deserved the full mitigation available due to his guilty plea, clean record and his remorse shown."

Harlequins back-row Renaldo Bothma is currently serving a four-game suspension after being found guilty of a similar offence, which is contrary to Law 9.12