Bester given suspended sentence

The head coach was called to account at a hearing in Brighouse following his side’s prickly one-point defeat at Bedford last month.

Bester was accused of charges of conduct prejudicial to the interests of the game, verbally abusing and threatening a match official with his manner and tone during the match.

He was subsequently a three-week ban, suspended until June 2013, by the three-man panel and fined £500, allowing Bester to continue in his regular role for tomorrow’s clash with Welsh.

Problems arose after centre Pale Nonu was the victim of a dangerous tackle under the noses of referee Matt Carley and touch judge Darryl Chapman—one of a string of bad decisions on the day by the officials.

Bester is alleged to have verbally abused the touch judge - a charge he has always strenuously denied - and was sent to the stand as a result.

But he said after the hearing: “There was no abuse, all I said was that the officials were being consistent and if it continued I would report them to the RFU."