Sent-off Hodge misses Cov trip

Coventry forward Danny Hodge has been suspended for a week and will miss next weekend's trip to Launceston. Hodge and Moseley centre Gary Trueman both admitted a charge of striking an opponent in the league game at Billesley Common on February 9 - when both were sent off - when they appeared before a Rugby Football Union disciplinary panel in Coventry.

As neither side has a fixture this weekend, the suspensions will run from February 24 to March 2.

The RFU are now looking into the build-up to the incident that led to the double sending-off, and there could be further charges relating to an alleged biting incident involving Moseley No.8 James Rodwell.

Meanhwile, Cov hooker Stuart Friswell is facing a tidy-up operation on his right knee and will be out for four weeks.

Friswell, who has suffered two calf injuries since the start of December, saw a specialist on Monday who confirmed that surgery was necessary.

"It's been there for a while and I've just been managing it, but the specialist said it is best to get it done right away," said Friswell, who is aiming to be back in time for Coventry's game against Pertemps Bees on March 29.

"It's just another blip - I think I've only played 40, maybe 45, minutes since the game at Nottingham - but that's my three out of the way and I'm touching a bit of wood as well."