Flanagan given 10-game ban after second ‘testicle attack’

Bradford Bulls hooker George Flanagan has been suspended for 10 matches and fined £250 after being found guilty of “attacking an opponent’s testicles” for the second time in 18 months.

The incident occurred in the 32nd minute of the Bulls’ Challenge Cup second-round defeat by Featherstone Rovers on March 21. Flanagan, who was handed an eight-match ban for a similar offence in August 2019, pleaded not guilty.

A Grade F charge is the most serious grading open to the Rugby Football League’s match review panel and carries a minimum suspension of eight matches.

Rugby league has had a number of unsavoury on-field incidents over the years.

Sam Burgess, who represented England in both rugby league and union and played in Australia’s National Rugby League, was banned for two weeks for a “squirrel tackle” in which he grabbed the testicles of opponent Will Chambers during a match in 2013.

Former NRL player John Hopoate was banned in 2001 and sacked by his club for inserting his fingers into an opposing player’s anus on more than one occasion.

Meanwhile, Wigan coach Adrian Lam will specially select a player to mark pacy Wakefield winger Tom Johnstone in tonight’s Betfred Super League clash.

Johnstone, 25, demonstrated his scoring threat with two long-range tries against Leeds in the opening round and Lam said: “He showed what he is capable of doing if you’re one millimetre out in your preparation against him. We’ll do our best to try to nullify him.”

Lam has included youngsters Sam Halsall and James Mcdonnell in his initial squad, but also has the option of switching John Bateman into the threequarters and giving the experienced Jake Bibby the job of stopping Johnstone.

Hull KR take on St Helens in tonight’s other match.