GLOUCESTER head coach Bryan Redpath has no plans to ban his players from using social networking sites.

Leicester's director of rugby Richard Cockerill has forbidden his squad from using Twitter or Facebook after England number eight Jordan Crane announced he was injured earlier this week.

But Redpath says he currently has no problem about his players going on the websites, regularly used by sports stars and celebrities to provide details about their daily lives.

"I can understand why Richard Cockerill has banned them after a player gets injured and puts it on Twitter when it has not been released from the club website," said the Scot.

"You take away every little edge and you want to try to cover up some certain things so no one knows what is going on in your camp.

"It is something that players need to be aware of for their own safety and their own public image that they portray."

Leicester backrow Crane feared he had badly injured his ankle in last Friday's friendly against Munster and told his Twitter followers: 'Ankle bad again. It's a dark day and it's going to be three long months.'

Cockerill was angered by Crane's comments because he was awaiting the results of a scan and hoped the backrow star was not as badly injured as first feared.

But Redpath said should a situation like that arise in the future at Gloucester, he would take the appropriate measures.

"I can't say I have ever been on myself, but if it comes my way that there is information going out that should not be going out then I will deal with it on that front," added Redpath, who is entering his second season in charge at Kingsholm.

"I can understand what Richard is doing and the frustrations he has shown.

"If that happened here then we will deal with it as we see fit, but at the moment it's not a problem.

"I can't change what people put on there and if they want to be this and be that.

"At this moment I have not considered banning it."