Alred: Suspended by RFU

Kicking coach Dave Alred and fitness specialist Paul Stridgeon were found to have illegally switched balls during England's 67-3 victory over Romania last weekend.

Alred and Stridgeon will be banned from entering Auckland's Eden Park following an internal RFU review of the incident.

England were the subject of a misconduct investigation from Rugby World Cup Limited after they were spotted substituting balls before Jonny Wilkinson attempted "a number of conversion kicks".

Law 9.8.1 states the kicker must convert tries with same ball that was touched down, unless the referee agrees it is defective. England did not consult the match officials before making the switch.

The RFU responded to the RWCL investigation by conducting an internal review, which found that Alred and Stridgeon "mistakenly thought that there was an issue with some of the match balls".

The RFU statement continued: "Those team management members took it upon themselves to substitute balls during the match in contravention of both the laws of the game and the spirit of the game.

"The RFU fully accepts that the action of those team management members was incorrect and detrimental to the image of the tournament, the game and to English rugby.

"The RFU has therefore decided to reprimand those team management members, to warn them as to their future conduct and to suspend them from participation in England's next game, the match between England and Scotland.

"This suspension means that they will not be able to be in the stadium for that match in any capacity."

RWCL confirmed England will face no further sanctions, having been satisfied with the RFU's action.

England manager Martin Johnson said: "It's unfortunate we have had to take this action but ultimately there was a breach of the laws of the game.

"But it's happened, some action has been taken, and we have to move on."