Leicester Tigers coach Richard Cockerill apologises for abusing officials

Leicester Tigers head coach Richard Cockerill has apologised for abusing match officials and vowed that it will "never happen again''.

The 38-year-old attends a Rugby Football Union (RFU) disciplinary hearing today at the offices of the Judge Advocate General, London.

The three-man panel will be chaired by RFU disciplinary officer Jeff Blackett.

Cockerill has been charged with two offences of match official abuse during the LV= Cup match against Newport Gwent Dragons on November 14, which Leicester won 29-20. Cockerill says his behaviour on the day was "unacceptable.

"I can't comment on the case, but I said a few things in the heat of the moment against Newport and I have apologised to those concerned," he said yesterday.

"You can't do those sort of things. It is unacceptable. It's not good enough from me and I should set an example. I will take the consequences and it won't happen again."

The referee for the match in question was Tim Wigglesworth and his assistants were Alan Hughes and Robin Goodliffe. Cockerill also vented his frustrations in the post-match press conference.

"The referee's scrummage decisions and the way he handled the game were poor all round," he said.

Cockerill was not the only one to criticise the officials on the day, as opposite number Paul Turner had his say too.

"At half-time both Richard and I had a word with the official," he said. "It's not my style to criticise officials but he didn't sort anything out today particularly and just left everything to chance."

Leicester Tigers chief executive Peter Wheeler said the club would be supporting Cockerill. "It is also worth noting that Richard has never previously had to answer to a disciplinary hearing in either his playing or management career," added Wheeler.

The exact details of what Cockerill said to who are unknown.

The last high-profile case of a Guinness Premiership head coach abusing an official came in 2007 when Gloucester's Dean Ryan was found guilty after his side's narrow defeat by Saracens.

A disciplinary panel found his conduct "prejudicial to the interests of the Union and the game".

He received a 13-week touchline ban which saw Ryan suspended from the pitch, touchline, technical, tunnel and dressing room areas on match days.