NEW Zealand referee Steve Walsh has been handed a one-match ban by World Cup chiefs following an altercation with a member of England's management team.

The suspension began this afternoon, Australian time, and will expire on Monday morning.

Walsh, one of the world's leading referees, was scheduled to be a touch judge at today's Pool B game between France and the USA in Wollongong.

Rugby World Cup today stressed that Walsh will be available for selection beyond the pool stages.

England fitness adviser Dave Reddin was last night cleared by RWC independent judicial officer Brian McLaughlin over an alleged incident involving himself and the fourth official - Walsh - when England beat Samoa in Melbourne last Sunday.

"Following an incident involving the fourth official, Mr Steve Walsh, and a member of the England management team at the conclusion of the England versus Samoa match on Sunday, October 26, an investigation has taken place," said RWC, in a statement.

"Mr Walsh has subsequently been suspended for inappropriate behaviour during an exchange with a member of the England management team.

"He is suspended from 1400 Friday, October 31, 2003, until 0900 on Monday, November 3.

"It is recognised that the event occurred during a particularly difficult situation.

"Mr Walsh will be available for selection beyond the pool rounds."

England head coach Clive Woodward, meanwhile, returned to Brisbane today in time for part of England's Gold Coast training session, as they stepped up preparations for Sunday's final Pool C game against Uruguay.

The Rugby Football Union might be £10,000 poorer, and Reddin banned from the touchline for two games, but it could have been a lot worse.

England received a relatively mild financial punishment over the Dan Luger 16th-man saga against Samoa, although Reddin's penalty for sending Luger on to the field against fifth official Brett Bowden's instructions was marginally greater.

While touchline bans are commonplace in soccer, such is the unusual nature of the sanction in rugby union, that it has not yet been confirmed whether Reddin will be allowed to carry out his customary pre-match warm-up with England's players before the next two games against Uruguay and probably Wales.