Wigan Warriors confirm that they won't sack Ben Flower

Wigan Warriors chairman Ian Lenagan has confirmed that the club will not sack Ben Flower following his six-month ban for punching an opponent.

Flower was punished by the Rugby Football League on Tuesday after hitting St Helens's Lance Hohaia during Saturday's Super League Grand Final at Old Trafford.

There have been calls for Wigan to part company with the 26-year-old Welshman, but Lenagan insists that he will be staying with the Warriors.

"This is not drug-taking; it is in a super-charged, emotional environment behaving irresponsibly. That is no reason to sack a player," he told Sky Sports News.

"That is a reason to discipline him, a reason to make sure that he suffers from it - because we as a club have suffered as well, and quite rightly so, because we are responsible for our players - but there is no question of us sacking Ben Flower."

Flower joined Wigan from Welsh side Crusaders in 2011.