Paris row all set to rumble on

THE fallout from the astonishing conclusion to Wales’ Six Nations defeat in Paris last month is set to rumble on.

Six Nations chiefs have decided that the controversial substitution of Uini Atonio during a 20-minute overtime period in Paris is worthy of further investigation and have deferred the case to the tournament’s Untoward Incident Review Group.

Superior scrummager Rabah Slimani had been replaced by Atonio but was allowed to return to the field with the French team’s doctor saying the giant prop had to go off for a head injury assessment.

However, just moments earlier, Atonio had grumbled about a bad back and Wales coach Rob Howley question the integrity of the French coaches after the match.

“There is evidence to suggest the integrity of the game has been brought into disrepute,” he said.

But now that Six Nations have concluded their initial review of the incident they have decided to press on with a more formal investigation.

A statement from Six Nations read: “Following its preliminary investigation into the replacements made in the latter stages of the France v Wales match on 18 March 2017 (and in particular the replacement of Uini Atonio by Rabah Slimani), Six Nations Rugby has decided to refer the matter to the independent Six Nations Untoward Incident Review Group (UIRG) for review.

“Six Nations Rugby will send the file to the UIRG later this week and it is anticipated that the review process will begin shortly thereafter.”

During a remarkable conclusion to the match, the like of which has never been seen before, Wales star George North claimed he’d been bitten by an opponent. Though no French player was charged due to the citing commissioner on the day being unable to conclusively point the finger at a particular individual.

Since then, French lock Yoann Maestri has picked up a €30,000 fine for comments he made to the media after the match about referee Wayne Barnes.

The 29-year-old claimed there was ‘complicity between AngloSaxons’ and said all ‘Anglo-Saxon referees think we’re cheats’.