FORMER Warrington Wolves star Richie Mathers has been banned from rugby league for six months after being found guilty of breaching betting rules.

The full back provided inside information on his current club London Broncos’ playing strengths and pre-match preparations ahead of a game against Leigh in March and encouraged people to bet on the outcome of the match.

The suspension will be back-dated to July 28 2015 and will run until January 28 2016 – meaning that Mathers will miss the rest of this season but will be able for selection again at the start of next year.

In a statement posted on Twitter, Mathers said: "I totally refute the RFL tribunal decision.

"I want to make absolutely clear I have never had any involvement in betting or encouraging betting by providing inside information within rugby league.

"I am currently considering various legal avenues and have no further comment to make at this time."

Mathers was Tony Smith’s first signing for Warrington when he joined midway through the 2009 season as part of the deal that saw Martin Gleeson move to Wigan.

He won the Challenge Cup with the club in 2009 and 2010 and also enjoyed a loan spell with the Wire in the 2002 season.

The 31-year-old left the club at the end of the 2010 season to join Castleford with the arrival of Brett Hodgson pending.

It is understood that Mathers didn’t place any bets himself or profit from the information he gave.

London Broncos lost the Challenge Cup tie 64-12 in a fixture that Mathers didn’t appear in.