DRAGONS boss Bernard Jackman has been given a two-week stadium ban by the Welsh Rugby Union after slamming the performance of referee Ian Davies.

The head coach vented his frustration at the official in an October press conference the week after a 23-16 loss to Cardiff Blues in Newport.

After stressing that the men from the capital were worthy winners, Jackman said that Davies made “very strange refereeing decisions, very poor” and said the official’s calls had been “completely mindboggling over 80 minutes”.

He said that the Dragons had previously had problems with the referee, that “the only consistent thing with Ian is his inconsistency” and that it was an unacceptable performance.

The former Ireland hooker, a WRU employee because the Dragons are owned by the governing body, was called to a disciplinary hearing at Principality Stadium on Thursday.

He was slapped with a two-week stadium ban with another two weeks suspended, meaning he will miss Sunday’s Guinness PRO14 clash with Edinburgh at Rodney Parade and then a reunion with his old Leinster side in Newport a week on Saturday.

The suspension means that Jackman will have to lead the preparations before handing the reins to his assistants Ceri Jones and Barry Maddocks, forwards and backs coach respectively.

A WRU statement read: "Dragons head coach Bernard Jackman has been found guilty of a breach of code of conduct in relation to comments regarding the refereeing of his side’s loss to Cardiff Blues.

"Jackman has received a four-week stadium ban, effective immediately, from Dragons matches, of which two weeks will be suspended until the end of the season and only imposed if there is any further breach."

The Dragons declined to comment on the suspension.