Fylde RFC player-coach cited

The flashpoint incident happened at Coventry on October 15 when Fylde lost 53-24.

Arnold, who is missing tomorrow afternoon’s clash at Blaydon pending the disciplinary process, admitted he had been ‘stupid amd reckless’ and that he had apologised to Coventry.

The contrite Fylde player-coach added: “I am not proud of what I did. I got an elbow in the face and I reacted.

“I thought at the time that I had been deliberately elbowed, but I have looked at the video since then and I realise that it was not the case and what I did does not look good.

“I wanted to give the player a warning shot for hitting me with his elbow by going in with my knee.

“The Coventry player was not hurt, but I shouldn’t have done what I did.

“It is not in my nature to do something like that and I have already been in contact with Phil Maynard (Coventry managing director) to apologise to everyone concerned at the club.

“I have played 400 games in senior rugby and never had a red card.”

Fylde are now awaiting a date for the disciplinary procedure to take its course.