Former Leicester defence coach Phil Blake banned for six months for betting on his own team

  • Phil Blake breached anti-corruption regulations by betting on the outcome of Leicester's matches against Toulon and Newcastle
  • The Australian was found guilty of placing eight bets totalling £1200 through a self-service machine in a Leicester casino
  • He won £669 by correctly predicting score margins and match results in December and March

By Nik Simon for the Daily Mail

Published: 13:52 EST, 25 June 2015 | Updated: 20:08 EST, 25 June 2015

Leicester defence coach Phil Blake has been suspended for six months after breaching anti-corruption regulations by betting on the outcome of matches against Toulon and Newcastle.

The Australian was found guilty of placing eight bets totalling £1200 through a self-service machine in a Leicester casino, where he won £669 by correctly predicting score margins and match results in December and March.

As well as imposing a fine equal to his winnings, an RFU disciplinary panel ordered Blake to pay £500 in costs alongside a suspension that will end on 24 November.

Phil Blake
Mathieu Bastareaud

Former Leicester coach Phil Blake (left) bet on the Leicester vs Toulon match

‘This is the first such case that we know of in rugby,’ said RFU disciplinary panel chairman Christopher Quinlan. ‘Any breach of the anti-corruption and betting regulations will and must be treated seriously.’

Blake had an appeal against the length of the sanction dismissed. He joined Leicester on a one-year deal for the 2014/15 season, helping the East Midlands club concede fewer tries than any other team in the Aviva Premiership.

It was announced in April that Blake would leave Leicester, who acknowledged the verdict, this summer to ‘pursue new opportunities’ and Kiwi Scott Hansen has been appointed as defence coach for the 2015/16 season.

‘Phil Blake was under contract for the 2014/15 season and is no longer employed by Leicester Tigers,’ said a Tigers spokesman. ‘The club would, however, like to place on record, as it did during his time at Leicester, that he was a popular and valued member of the coaching team and we hope he is fully able to return to the game in a suitable capacity at the end of the period laid down by the disciplinary hearing.’

Blake correctly predicted the score margins and match results in two Leicester matches

Blake correctly predicted the score margins and match results in two Leicester matches

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