Japan have suspended their head coach, Eddie Jones, for four games and cut his salary for “verbal abuse directed at local officials” during an Australian tour.

Jones will miss Japan’s Nations Championship opener against Italy in Tokyo on 4 July, the fourth game of his ban.

The Japan Rugby Football Union said the 66-year-old Australian violated their ethics and disciplinary regulations during a Japan Under-23 team tour of Australia from 1 to 15 April.

“These measures relate to incidences of verbal abuse directed at local match officials,” the Japan Rugby Football Union said in a statement.

“I accept the disciplinary action of the JRFU relating to the U23 Japan national team tour of Australia,” Jones said in a statement. “Some inappropriate remarks that I made caused discomfort to local match officials and other related parties.

“I would like to offer my sincere apologies to everyone involved. I deeply regret my behaviour and words and will make every effort to ensure that this doesn’t happen again.”

Jones will not be allowed to take any part in two games pitting a Japan select team against Hong Kong on 22 and 29 May. He is also banned from the Japan XV game against the Maori All Blacks on 27 June in Nagoya and the full Japan side’s Nations Championship opener against Italy.