A Rugby Football Union disciplinary panel reduced the recommended 21-day suspension for such offences but their decision means he will still miss the Wales v South Africa international on November 14.

An RFU statement said: "The panel considered 14 days appropriate because they accepted that there was no malice and that it was not pre-meditated."

But Richmond chief executive Tony Hallett insisted that Quinnell was innocent and no suspension should have been imposed.

"Scott made contact with Lawrence's chest 0.33 seconds after Lawrence kicked the ball. Therefore Scott's tackle was neither high nor late," he said.

Quinell will now have to wait until the November 21 game against Argentina to win his 19th cap.