Leicester Tigers head coach Richard Cockerill has been banned for four weeks for verbally abusing officials during an Anglo-Welsh Cup game against Newport Gwent Dragons on November 14.

The former England hooker pleaded guilty to two counts of abuse during the game which the Guinness Premiership champions won 29-20 at Welford Road.

As well as being fined £2,000 by a Rugby Football Union panel, he will also have to stay out of action for upcoming Premiership games against Leeds and Wasps as well as home and away fixtures against Clermont Auvergne in the Heineken Cup.

He is also banned from all levels of coaching for this period, including junior rugby.

Cockerill appeared before a RFU disciplinary panel comprising RFU disciplinary officer Jeff Blackett, Philip Evans and Michael White in London to hear his fate.

The 38-year-old took over as head coach at Leicester in April 2009, immediately leading them to the Guinness Premiership title in May and a runners-up spot in the Heineken Cup after a 19-16 defeat to Leinster in Edinburgh.