BRAD Singleton has been handed a six-week suspension after pleading guilty to striking Catalans Dragons' Greg Bird.

The incident occurred in the 10th minute of Leeds Rhinos' 46-10 win at home to the French side in last Friday's Super League encounter.

Singleton, who played for Barrow Island as a youngster, was placed on report for the off-the-ball elbow to the head of Bird, which left the Australian loose forward needing seven stitches to a cut.

The prop pleaded guilty to the grade E charge of striking with the elbow at a disciplinary hearing at the RFL's Red Hall headquarters last night and was hit with the lengthy ban, plus a £300 fine.

Singleton will now miss six Super League games and the Rhinos' fifth round Challenge Cup tie over the weekend of April 22 and 23. He will be free to play again for the visit of Huddersfield Giants to Headingley on April 27.

The ban is the longest handed down to a Rhinos player in the summer era, surpassing the five-game suspensions handed to Barrie McDermott and Zak Hardaker.

It is also the longest ban a Leeds player has been given since David Cruickshank was sent off at the end of the 1989/90 season for a high tackle against St Helens, for which he received an eight game ban that ended his career at the club.

Rhinos head coach Brian McDermott had no complaints over Singleton's ban, saying: "He pleaded guilty as he knew the extent of his careless tackle and that type of incident has no place in the modern game.

"Brad has been a standout for us so far this year, but last Friday he let his teammates down.

"We will now put Brad into a mini preseason so he can be in good shape on his return should he get picked in the team after his suspension."