It won't. Good Friday is 3rd April.

Yep. Let's hope he spends the time learning to channel his aggression properly. Now, I'll just sit back and watch the carnage unfold on here!

Did you include 2 friendlies and the Brisbane game?

I can't see him back in the first team 'til May or early June.
Will he be able to use any of the club's facilities to train? Otherwise he's not going to be fully match fit is he?

I only included League matches, cup matches and the 2 that we played down under, as we would normally have had league matches there.

Whilst a single friendly may count for a "normal" ban, I didn't take it in to account, as it doesn't really matter for this, does it?

Even if he played in a friendly, he would have to wait another 10 weeks, so it would be pointless.

I also made the mistake of looking at this year's GF and EM dates and thinking that he would be back on Good Friday.

As Easter is early, I guess that adds a game, so it's 11 altogether.

what a con,ban should have started beginning of next season.

The ban should have been double that. I hope the police press charges and he ends up doing time.

Treble!!! FOUR TIMES!!!!!!!!!!!!1111111111111 And get MI6 involved - police are useless these days!!!!!!!111111

Bad luck, but we own the RFL, you know.

Let's hope Ben comes back refreshed from his well earned rest.

St Helens Response:

NOW that the Ben Flower incident has been dealt with, St.Helens re-confirm their stance that this is a matter entirely for the RFL governing body and for the player concerned. Neither St Helens nor Lance Hohaia ever considered it to be otherwise.

Chairman Eamonn McManus stated:

"These matters have to be dealt with by the appropriate body within the game and it has so been.

"Whilst serving his ban it is critical that Ben is now provided all due personal and professional support. His rehabilitation is now paramount. During the period of his ban he will be no more than a 25-year-old boy who will be extremely vulnerable emotionally. We must assist him in any way that we can and accept him back into the sport. There is a person behind the player, and I am reliably informed by all that it is a good one. He must know that from all. Lance Hohaia certainly feels that way towards him also.

"The sport of Rugby League should not be judged by this event, but by how it deals with it.

"Ian Lenagan is a strong Chairman of a great club and I know that he will look beyond mere effect and more at cause. If anything is identified and needs to be dealt with then he will. St Helens stand firmly at the side of Wigan at this time.

"Separately, the RFL will take its duties and obligations extremely seriously. Again, we must look beyond the offence itself and identify and deal with any surrounding contributory factors. Certainly, the officiating and disciplinary structures, systems and processes need to be scrutinised, and quickly. Most agree that there has been an increasing lack of consistency in the interpretation and application of the rules of the game, and in its disciplinary sanctions when such rules are deemed to have been broken.

"Real and rapid introspection is critical and trust needs to be unequivocal. Coaches and players must have much more clarity and consistency in the application of the rules and in their sanctions so as not to tempt participants to exploit unclear boundaries nor to risk the unpredictability of sanctions.

"This matter gives the sport of Rugby League the opportunity to positively differentiate itself yet again by dealing with a high profile problem in an efficient, transparent, pragmatic and effective manner. I am confident that it will."

And so it begins......

RFL have confirmed it's the equivalent of being banned for 13 games.

It's 13 games in all. 2 friendlies, 10 SL games and the world series game against Brisbane.

Its how he comes back mentally after serving his sentence, you can be sure the opposition will wind him up possibly to the point of violent conduct. If he does he will be gone for good. Will Wane give him special instruction " You DO NOT have permission to be reckless."

De dums, you soft get.

Its a 6 month ban those 3 matches don't count.

Which 3 games?

Two friendly and the brisbon one

Two friendly and the brisbon one

Trying to work out which games count & what don't is probably why it's a period ban.
Perhaps they realised what a bunch of idiots they looked when Westwood's ban last year included a meaningless friendly against Italy. Instead of a punishment, all they handed him was a bit of a cushy rest.

The RFL have confirmed how many games it is. 2 friendlies, 10 SL games and a world club series game against Brisbane. 13 games.

6 Months ?

I bet Oscar Pistorious gets less for murder

With the game being the GF, the wordwide (yeah what's that about) attention it's received, and all the talk of GMP getting involved the RFL had to show people that it had dealt with this appropriately.

Most people won't disagree with the punishment, some softcocks will argue it should be more and the odd one-eyed muppet will think it too strong.

All considered i think it's the right decision, if this had been Leigh v Fev at the LSV mid season though it would have been a 3 game ban if that and a small fine.

It is time to change the disciplinary procedure and put in place clear and transparent procedures and stop this making it up as they go along attitude.