Rugby-Sale wing denies leaking team tactics to brother-report

Jan 18 (Reuters) - Sale Sharks wing Tom Arscott has denied leaking confidential team information to Bristol Rugby at a Rugby Football Union (RFU) disciplinary hearing, the Times reported on Wednesday. Sale suspended Arscott after accusing him of sharing tactical information with his brother Luke, who plays at fullback for Bristol, before the teams faced each other in the Premiership on Jan. 1. Sale, who were beaten 24-23 by Bristol, the Premiership's bottom side, lodged a complaint against Arscott with the RFU, which is currently investigating the matter. Bristol head coach Mark Tainton confirmed that the brothers had met before the game but said in a statement on Tuesday that "nothing was said or passed to the Bristol coaches of any sporting value." "As a club, we're entirely confident that we have not acted in a way that is against the spirit and values of rugby. We're disappointed in how this episode has been handled so publicly." The RFU is likely to contact Bristol in the next few days as the investigation continues. (Reporting by Simon Jennings in Bengaluru, editing by Pritha Sarkar)