Sporting Digest: Rugby Union

The England World Cup winner Mark Regan has been fined pounds 500 by a Rugby Football Union disciplinary panel for bringing the game into disrepute. Regan was charged with "conduct prejudicial to the interests of the game". It followed the Tykes' Powergen Cup quarter-final victory over Northampton last month. Regan was found guilty for "stating in a television interview that he intentionally exaggerated the effect of a stamp to his head in an attempt to persuade the referee to send off an opposition player". The Northampton scrum-half, Mark Robinson, was sent off by Chris White, the referee, for the offence and received a 14-week ban. The 33-year-old Regan announced yesterday he would be rejoining Bristol Shoguns next season.

England have slipped to fourth in the world rankings following their Six Nations defeat by Wales on Saturday.