London Irish's title challenge faces being severely undermined after director of rugby Brian Smith was accused of abusing match officials.

Smith has been called to attend a Rugby Football Union disciplinary hearing on May 2nd after being charged with "conduct prejudicial to the interests of the union and the game".

The Australian is understood to have been furious at referee Nick Williams and touch-judge James Minards over their handling of a second-team game at Gloucester, which London Irish 'A' won 12-7 in appalling conditions.

The minimum entry-level suspension for a coach found guilty of verbally abusing match officials is six weeks - which means Smith would be confined to the stands just as the Exiles' season reaches its climax.

The Australian has guided London Irish into the last four of the European Challenge Cup and, with just three league games left, they sit on the brink of a Premiership semi-final.

But any ban of at least four weeks would cover both the Premiership semi-final and Grand Final plus, should London Irish beat Newcastle, the European Challenge Cup final as well.

Smith would be restricted from any match-day coaching. He would be banned from the touch-line, the tunnel and the changing room.

Questions have been raised over the five-week gap between the alleged incident taking place and the RFU's May 2nd disciplinary date.

The official line is that because Smith's case occurred at Guinness A League level, it is not a priority and cannot be squeezed into an already packed schedule - all of which means he faces missing the biggest games of London Irish's season.

However, a club spokesman confirmed tonight: "We will be defending Mr Smith at the hearing robustly."