Exeter Chiefs fly-half Harvey Skinner has been banned for three games after being found guilty of making a dangerous tackle during last Saturday's 36-14 win away at Hartpury in the Premiership Rugby Cup.

Skinner, who was given back the number 10 jersey having been left out in the cold in recent weeks with Henry Slade and Will Haydon-Wood sharing the fly-half duties between them, was yellow carded during the game but was then cited after the match for lifting and driving Hartpury full back Mat Protheroe into the ground after he took a high ball from a box kick.

The case was heard by an independent disciplinary panel chaired by Richard Whittam KC, sitting with Guy Lovgreen and Veryan Boscawen, who upheld the charge and handed out a three week ban which means Skinner will be unavailable for selection for two key games.

READ MORE: Exmouth toilets set for major seaside transformation

READ MORE: Remove yellow bed stains with 65p item - and it's not bleach

He will miss this weekend's Premiership Rugby Cup game against Cornish Pirates, but more importantly be absent for Gloucester's visit to Kingsholm next weekend in the final pool stage game of the competition with the Cherry and Whites expected to field a strong side against their fellow Premiership outfit.

With Chiefs missing Slade, who is away on England duty in the Guinness Six Nations, Skinner will also miss Exeter's almost certain Premiership Rugby Cup quarter-final, with Haydon-Wood set for a run of games in the number 10 jersey as he looks to establish himself there.

Ben Coen is the next fly-half in the pecking order at Exeter Chiefs but he is currently on England U20s duty as the starting stand-off for the development side.