The details of Cheika’s issues with the match doctor and the circumstances around the incident are not known with the full judgement yet to be released by the RFU.

“The panel found that Michael Cheika disrespected the Independent match day doctor in challenging the decision he had made that a player was subject to an IPR (Immediate Permanent Removal),” said Richard Whittam, who chaired the panel.

“Although it was an unusual case because there was a lack of clarity about the decisions made about the head injuries, the decisions of the Independent Match Day Doctor must be respected.

“In this particular case, the appropriate sanction was one of two weeks. The panel mitigated this by suspending one week until the end of the season.”