Rabeni missed the end of the season through suspension

Leicester centre Seru Rabeni has been banned for nine weeks by a Rugby Football Union disciplinary panel after playing while banned.

The Fiji international was given a 14-week ban for making illegal contact with the eye area of Saracens hooker Andy Kyriacou on 15 March.

But at a hearing on Thursday, the 29-year-old admitted playing in three sevens tournaments during his ban.

The new ban will begin on 15 August and will run until 17 October.

It means Rabeni will miss Leicester's opening seven matches of the new season, including five Guinness Premiership matches and their opening Heineken Cup fixture against the Ospreys.