The Leicester captain, Tom Youngs, has been ruled out of the relegation showdown with Newcastle on Friday after receiving a three-week suspension for a dangerous challenge as decreed by a Rugby Football Union disciplinary hearing on Wednesday night.

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Youngs will miss the Tigers’ crucial game against Newcastle as well as Bristol and Harlequins but can return for their final match of the season against Bath – potentially the biggest in the club’s history if the threat of relegation remains. He was first handed a six-week ban for contact with the head of the Exeter lock Ollie Atkins – for which he was sent off in Leicester’s humiliating 52-20 defeat last Saturday – but he received full mitigation for reasons including his early guilty plea and his “obvious remorse”.

With his brother Ben ruled out for the season with a shoulder injury, Youngs’s three-game absence is a blow for the coach, Geordan Murphy, with Leicester 10th in the table. They are five points above Newcastle before the make-or-break trip to Kingston Park and could find themselves in 12th spot by the end of the weekend.

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Another headache for Leicester is the club have insisted that Matt Toomua will see out the remainder of his contract amid claims the Australian back has asked for immediate release from his contract. The 29-year-old will join Melbourne Rebels next season after three seasons at Welford Road.

In addition, Leicester have revealed Tom Youngs is among a number of players whose families endured “vile and disgusting personal abuse” on social media, which has been reported to the police, after the defeat by Exeter. A club statement read: “[We] accept all opinions on how we are doing our jobs for our supporters, but when this tips over into foul abuse the club will do everything in its power to make sure people that believe that is acceptable behaviour are found and dealt with.”

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The Newcastle director of rugby, Dean Richards, will give his England back-row Mark Wilson until the last possible moment to prove his fitness, having been without his services since the win against Sale last month owing to a back injury. Richards expects to name Wilson in his side on Thursday but a fitness test on the morning of the match will determine whether he plays any part.

“He was out there training today,” said Richards, who spent 15 years with Leicester as a player and six as a coach, guiding them to four Premiership titles and two European crowns. “We’ll see if he comes through that all right. He’ll have a fitness test on Friday – it’s touch and go.”

Israel Folau, meanwhile, is being investigated by the Australian rugby union after again posting “unacceptable” homophobic views on social media. He was warned over similar controversial comments last year and is set for another showdown following his latest outburst.

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Folau, 30, posted a “warning” on Wednesday that “hell awaits” for all “drunks, homosexuals, adulterers, liars, fornicators, thieves, atheists, idolaters”, urging that they “repent”. The Australia and Waratahs full-back had earlier posted a screenshot criticising the Tasmanian parliament for passing landmark legislation to make gender optional on birth certificates.

Rugby Australia responded with a damning statement. “The content within the post is unacceptable. It does not represent the values of the sport and is disrespectful to members of the rugby community. The Rugby Australia integrity unit has been engaged on the matter.”

Folau’s international career – and participation at the World Cup – must be considered in jeopardy after he was reminded of his social media obligations following heated discussions with the Rugby Australia chief executive, Raelene Castle, last year. Folau threatened to walk away from his contract after finding himself in trouble for similar comments. Threats by sponsors to withdraw their support of the union followed and while Folau eventually signed a four-year contract, it has been reported in Australia the deal includes conditions over his social media activity.