UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 FORM 6-K REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16 UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the month of January, 2003 SPIRENT plc _____________________________________________________________________ (Translation of registrant's name into English) Spirent House, Crawley Business Quarter, Fleming Way, Crawley, West Sussex RH10 9QL, UK. _____________________________________________________________________ (Address of principal executive offices) Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F. Form 20-F X Form 40-F..... Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Yes ..... No X If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82- ________ London Stock Exchange NOTIFICATION OF INTERESTS OF DIRECTORS AND CONNECTED PERSONS All relevant boxes should be completed in typed block capital letters. 1 Name of company SPIRENT plc 2 Name of director MY E CHUNG 3 Please state whether notification indicates that it is in respect of holding of the director named in 2 above or holding of that person's spouse or children under the age of 18 or in respect of a non-beneficial interest In respect of the Director's Holding 4 Name of the registered holder(s) and, if more than one holder, the number of shares held by each of them. (If notified) BANK OF NEW YORK (SEE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION) 5 Please state whether notification relates to a person(s) connected with the director named in 2 above and identify the connected person(s) N/A 6 Please state the nature of the transaction. For PEP transactions please indicate whether general/single company PEP and if discretionary/non discretionary. EXERCISE OF PURCHASE RIGHTS UNDER THE SPIRENT EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN 7 Number of shares/amount of stock acquired 22,400 SHARES 8 Percentage of issued Class 0.00238% 9 Number of shares/amount of stock disposed NIL 10 Percentage of Issued Class N/A 11 Class of security Ordinary shares of 3 1/3p each (SEE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION) 12 Price per share 14.25 PENCE 13 Date of transaction 02 JAN 2003 14 Date company informed 08 JAN 2003 15 Total holding following this notification 70,997 SHARES IN TOTAL, OF WHICH 31,377 ARE BENEFICIALLY HELD AS ADRs AND 39,620 NON-BENEFICIALLY HELD UNDER THE COMPANY'S ANNUAL BONUS INCENTIVE PLAN 16 Total percentage holding of issued class following this notification 0.00753% If a director has been granted options by the company please complete the following boxes. 17 Date of grant 02 JAN 2003 18 Period during which or date on which exercisable 02 JAN 2004 19 Total amount paid (if any) for grant of the option NIL 20 Description of shares or debentures involved: class, number 17,653 ORDINARY SHARES OF 3 1/3 PENCE The exercise price and number of purchase rights under the PLAN cannot be determined until maturity (i.e. 12 months following the date of grant). 17,653 relates to the number of shares subject to purchase rights based on the market price of a Spirent Ordinary share (less an applicable 15 per cent discount) as at the date of grant. (SEE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION) 21 Exercise price (if fixed at time of grant) or indication that price is to be fixed at time of exercise IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RULES OF THE EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN, THE FINAL EXERCISE PRICE CANNOT BE DETERMINED UNTIL MATURITY, WHICH IN NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES IS 12 MONTHS FROM THE DATE OF GRANT. THE PURCHASE PRICE IS SET AT A 15% DISCOUNT TO THE MARKET PRICE OF A SPIRENT ORDINARY SHARE ON EITHER THE FIRST OR LAST DAY OF THE OFFERING PERIOD - WHICHEVER PRICE IS THE LOWER. THE DISCOUNTED PRICE ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE OFFERING PERIOD WAS 14.25 PENCE. (SEE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION) 22 Total number of shares or debentures over which options held following this notification 1,906,609 OPTIONS OVER ORDINARY SHARES OF 3 1/3P PENCE 23 Any additional information THE EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN IS AN ALL EMPLOYEE SHARE PLAN UNDER WHICH ELIGIBLE USA EMPLOYEES PARTICIPATE ON A SIMILAR BASIS TO THE UK SAVINGS RELATED SHARE OPTION SCHEME. ALL OUSTANDING PURCHASE RIGHTS UNDER THE PLAN ARE EXERCISED AUTOMATICALLY UPON MATURITY OF THE OFFERING PERIOD. PURSUANT TO THE OPERATION OF THE PLAN, THE 22,400 ORDINARY SHARES WERE DELIVERED AS AMERICAN DEPOSITORY RECEIPTS (ADRs) TO THE BANK OF NEW YORK, WHO ARE THE APPOINTED ADMINISTRATORS OF THE PLAN. 24 Name of contact and telephone number for queries LUKE THOMAS- 01293 767658 25 Name and signature of authorised company official Responsible for making this notification Luke Thomas - Deputy Company Secretary Date of notification .8 JAN 2003 London Stock Exchange, Company Announcements Office, Old Broad Street, London EC2N 1HP Facsimile: 020 7588 6057, 020 7334 8964/8965/8966 (PLEASE DO NOT POST) Enquiries: Continuing obligations: Telephone: 020 7797 3850/1639/1972/3150 Signatures Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized. ______LUKE THOMAS______ (Registrant) Date___January 8, 2003____ By ____/s/ Luke Thomas____ (Signature)*