NEWPORT Gwent Dragons head coach Kingsley Jones believes Andrew Coombs has learnt a harsh lesson after being slapped with a three-week ban for carelessly catching Alun Wyn Jones on the head with his boot.

The 29-year-old Wales lock/flanker will miss Saturday’s Guinness Pro12 clash against Glasgow as well as the home encounter with Treviso and trip to the Scarlets.

He was punished after a disciplinary hearing on Tuesday night and it was only Coombs’ remorse and good record that led to him avoiding a more severe ban.

“There was no intent and what he was trying to do was put his foot through and kick the ball out of the ruck,” said Jones.

“They are friends, they spoke after the game and Andrew texted Alun Wyn and is genuinely sorry he did it – and getting three weeks has made him even more sorry.

“Putting feet in to stir the ruck is a tactic that I’m not very keen on and it’s something that we haven’t coached.

“Perhaps it was because a focus of the week’s preparation was how Alun Wyn does it, but you have to know what you are doing. Just as Andrew puts his foot in somebody pushes him and there we go.

“We all know Andrew isn’t that sort of a player but he will have learnt a harsh lesson and needs to be a bit more careful in what he is doing.”

Coombs’ ban presents an opportunity for Cory Hill and Matthew Screech to impress after sitting out the first two games of the campaign.

The pair did well last season and impressed in the summer friendlies but found themselves behind Coombs, Ian Gough and Rynard Landman in the pecking order.

“They have been a bit unlucky to miss out and that was because we needed some experience and had so many youngsters in the backs,” said Jones.