GREENE KING IPA CHAMPIONSHIP

ALEC Hepburn will miss London Welsh’s play-off campaign after receiving a five-week ban.

The front-row forward has been suspended following his sending-off for a tip tackle during the Exiles’ final regular season match against Nottingham.

Hepburn will initially miss the semi-final legs against Leeds on May 11 and 18.

Should Welsh reach the play-off final, his ban will include those matches.

Otherwise, Hepburn will be suspended for three weeks of pre-season games between August 11 and September 1.

He is the second Welsh forward to miss the Leeds clash through suspension, following last week’s ban for flanker Richard Thorpe.

One Exiles player looking forward to the play-offs, however, is wing Nick Scott, who scored a hat-trick of tries against Nottingham.

Scott bagged a treble when Welsh beat Doncaster 40-19 in the 2012 Championship play-offs before scoring in the semi-final and final as Welsh were crowned champions, and a repeat would be very welcome.

“Hopefully, it’s a good omen,” said Scott.

“When I score three tries and Seb Steg-mann scores two tries it means the team’s attacking really well.

“You can’t underestimate the work the boys are doing to put themselves into position to get a bit of depth.”