EX-Warrington Wolves centre Ryan Atkins has been given a three-month ban by the Rugby Football League after admitting betting on a game involving his former club Wakefield.

The 35-year-old, who has signed for Championship club York for 2021, was not registered with a professional club when he placed the bet on the outcome of Trinity's Super League fixture with Wigan in September.

But the fact that he had been registered with Trinity during the previous 12 months meant that he was in breach of the RFL’s ‘Betting and Related Activity Code of Conduct’.

The RFL says it accepted it was a single bet made without using 'inside' information and took into account the fact that Atkins cooperated fully with its investigation, having admitted the charge promptly.

Atkins, who scored 168 tries in 273 appearances for Warrington between 2010 and 2018, said: "I regret placing the bet, and if I could wind back the clock, I would not have done so.

"I’d like to thank the RFL for the fair decision and York City Knights for their support and standing by me during this difficult time.

"I look forward to meeting up with the squad early February and paying back that support."