SALE have suspended winger Tom Arscott over the alleged leak of information to Bristol that is being investigated by the Rugby Football Union.

It emerged on Monday the RFU was investigating a complaint made by Sale regarding the “passing of information to the opposition team” ahead of the Aviva Premiership match against Bristol at the AJ Bell Stadium on New Year’s Day, which the hosts lost 24-23.

On Tuesday Bristol, in a statement on the situation read out by head coach Mark Tainton, confirmed their former player Arscott met his brother Luke, part of the current squad, at the team hotel on New Year’s Eve but insisted “nothing of any sporting value” was subsequently passed on to coaching staff.

The Ashton Gate outfit had already released a statement the previous evening which said they “are absolutely confident of no wrongdoing”.