Rugby League: Elbow costly for Eyres: Forward's six-game ban for Wembley sending-off

Richie Eyres, the first player to be sent off in a Wembley final for 22 years, has been banned for six games.

Eyres, sent off for only the second time in his career for a late elbow to the head of Martin Offiah during Widnes' Challenge Cup final defeat by Wigan on Saturday, will miss out on a lucrative contract with Canberra in Australia this summer. 'I regret what happened and I'll take the punishment on the chin,' said Eyres, who may nevertheless appeal against the length of the ban.

His coach, Phil Larder, said: 'I thought it was a pretty bad incident. It was out of character because his disciplinary record this season has been perfect. I agree with cleaning up the game but the sentence was slightly harsh.'

The League's board of directors has also called Eyres' team-mate, Bobby Goulding, to appear on 19 May over an alleged high tackle on Wigan's Jason Robinson. The case could be referred to the disciplinary committee.

Having already lost Denis Betts for the rest of the season, Wigan, who play Castleford in the Premiership semi-final at Central Park tonight, have resigned themselves to the absence of Andy Platt. Platt played the last two matches, including the Wembley final, with a dislocated shoulder and may now need an operation. With Joe Lydon also out with a calf injury, Neil Cowie and both Wembley substitutes, Andrew Farrell and Sam Panapa, are in the starting line-up. Castleford could be without Tony Morrison, who injured a leg in training. Andy Fisher stands by to deputise in the second row, but Lee Crooks should play.

The Rugby League Council is to hold further talks on the chief executive, Maurice Lindsay's proposals to streamline the game's administration at a special meeting later this month.