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Sam Walters Given Seven-Match Ban Following Red Card in Challenge Cup Final
Wigan Warriors forward Sam Walters was banned for seven matches after a dangerous lift tackle in the Challenge Cup final. The Rugby Football League match review panel also fined him and suspended teammate Harry Smith for one match.
Jun 1, 9:25 AM·1m read1 source
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Sam Walters received a seven-match ban after being sent off late in Wigan Warriors' Challenge Cup final victory over Hull Kingston Rovers. The Cherry and Whites forward became the first man since 1993 to be dismissed in the final after his lift tackle on Robins hooker Bill Leyland was ruled dangerous.
Walters' suspension came less than two months after he served a three-match ban and accumulated 18 penalty points for a headbutting offence during Wigan's quarter-final win over Wakefield Trinity.
5. The Rugby Football League match review panel imposed a 35-point penalty on Walters for the tackle on Leyland and fined him an unspecified amount. Warriors half-back Harry Smith received a one-match suspension for making head contact with Hull Kingston Rovers winger Tom Davies.
The article was published one hour before 2026-06-01.
