Cockerill charged by RFU for conduct during Saints clash

Cockerill is alleged to have used obscene, inappropriate and/or unprofessional language and behaviour in exchanges with Stuart Terheege, the fourth official.

The Tigers director of rugby was angered by Saints lock Courtney Lawes’s tackle on Toby Flood, which resulted in the England fly-half needing lengthy treatment.

Flood recovered, but was then hit by Lawes again soon after and was forced off the field to be replaced by George Ford.

Cockerill was sent away from the side of the pitch by referee Wayne Barnes after continuing to speak to Terheege about the incident.

It was the first flashpoint of a final that saw Dylan Hartley sent off for verbally abusing Barnes, conduct that later resulted in an 11-week ban for the Saints skipper. Leicester won the game 37-17.

Cockerill has previously been banned for verbally abusing a match official, having received a four-week suspension for an incident during half-time of Leicester’s game against Newport Dragons in November, 2009.

The date, venue and time have yet to be released for the upcoming hearing.