Rugby League star faces FIVE-MATCH ban after clattering rival’s face with shoulder in horror tackle

LIAM BYRNE faces a ban of up to five matches after being sent off in Wigan’s derby defeat at St Helens.

The Warriors’ prop saw red after hitting Mark Percival around the head when they were winning 4-2 in Good Friday’s 12-4 loss.

Sky Sports

Wigan’s Liam Byrne was sent off for this tackle on Mark Percival[/caption]

Sky Sports

He now faces a five-game ban after being hit with a Grade E charge[/caption]

Now he faces a spell on the sidelines after being hit with a Grade E charge by the Rugby Football League’s match review panel.

Byrne, 24, will face a disciplinary panel tomorrow.

Meanwhile, team-mate Tyler Dupree has escaped punishment for an offence that many thought he should have seen red for.

The prop was sin binned after raising his elbow towards Matty Lees as he carried the ball up but the panel has backed ref Chris Kendall’s call.

Notes state: “Player braces for contact and initial contact is with the chest and rides up quickly to the opponent’s neck as the opponent slips prior to contact.”

Dupree has, however, been banned for one game for making contact with the head while Lees will miss two matches for a similar offence.

And his previous record means he has handed the extra ban, along with Warrington’s Paul Vaughan, who will also miss two games.

Leeds duo Justin Sangare and Cameron Smith will also sit out Friday’s clash with the Wolves.

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Wigan face Leigh Leopards on Thursday.

They then face Castleford Tigers in the Betfred challenge Cup on April 13.