Cougars player-coach Paul March has had his appeal against a two-month stadium ban dismissed by the Rugby Football League appeals tribunal.

March was handed the punishment for verbally abusing match officials at the end of his side’s Championship defeat by Leigh on March 9.

He had hoped to have the ban overturned in order to attend the biggest match in Keighley’s recent history.

With the suspension being upheld, March is prohibited from entering any stadium in which the Cougars are playing until July 8.

That falls after their Tetley’s Challenge Cup quarter-final at Super League club Widnes on June 5.

An RFL statement confirmed: “An appeals tribunal has upheld the two-month stadium ban imposed on Keighley coach Paul March for verbally abusing match officials.”