Lawes handed mouthguard fine

Courtney Lawes has become the third England player to be fined for wearing a branded gumshield during the Rugby World Cup.

The Northampton lock follows Manu Tuilagi and England captain Lewis Moody in being sanctioned for a breach of the tournament’s strict commercial regulations.

Tuilagi incurred a NZ$10,000 (€5,400) fine after the victory over Georgia and the England camp were warned about increased fines for any future breaches.

As a result, it is understood that Moody and Lawes were fined double the amount.

A Rugby Football Union spokesman said the breaches were oversights and not intentional.