Corry ban will give Wasps a big title boost

London Wasps' hopes of finishing top of the Zurich Premiership were boosted last night when rival Leicester star and stand-in England captain Martin Corry was banned for three weeks.

The Rugby Football Union disciplinary panel's ban - for elbowing Richard Hill which resulted in the fellow Lions player needing six stitches in an eye wound - means Corry is ruled out of Sunday's Heineken Cup semi-final with Toulouse and the final league match against Wasps on 30 April.

Corry cannot play again until 11 May so he will also sit out a Premiership play-off match on 7 May if Leicester finish second behind Wasps in the league. The top-placed club go straight into the Premiership play-off final at Twickenham on 14 May.

Wasps, who have won successive Premiership titles, are top due to their greater number of wins but Leicester have the same number of league points, making the 30 April match the final decider.

Corry had to leave early from the Lions two-day get together in Wales to attend the hearing in Coventry. He said: "I have let the whole club down, especially the supporters, and all I can do is express my sincere regret."

Also facing a possible RFU ban is ex-England captain Martin Johnson, who has been ordered to appear before a panel on Monday after receiving three yellow cards for foul play while leading Leicester this season. It is likely that Johnson will be handed a one-game ban ruling him out of the league match with Wasps.