Dan Parker will miss Keighley Cougars’ big promotion clash with North Wales Crusaders later this month after being handed a one-game ban by the Rugby Football League.

The RFL handed down sanctions yesterday following offences committed in games last weekend, and Parker has been charged with Grade B Dangerous Contact during his side’s 42-30 win at Rochdale.

The incident, a hip-drop tackle, fell under law 15.1, with the Match Review Panel’s report giving the explanation: “Dangerous Contact – Defender uses any part of their body forcefully to twist, bend or otherwise apply pressure to the limb or limbs of an opposing player in a way that involves an unacceptable risk of injury to that player.”

Grade B charges often only result in fines, but the Match Review Panel deemed Parker’s offence to be at the higher end of the sanction and have therefore banned him for a game.

Given the charges and suspensions are only handed down on a Thursday, players are free to play in their side’s next game, meaning Parker will be available for selection when Keighley host Hunslet this Sunday.

That is followed by a free weekend, then the game at North Wales on Sunday, May 19, which is the one Parker will miss.

Though Cougars and Oldham are favourites for promotion this season, North Wales are widely considered to be one of the biggest threats to that duopoly.