RFU ban Little for 11 weeks
THE Rugby Football Union, abiding by their pre-season warning of showing virtually zero tolerance towards proven cases of foul play, last night banned Saracens’ Fijian international fly-half, Nicky Little, for 11 weeks for striking an opponent.
Worcester’s Australian back-row forward, Drew Hickey, however, was found not guilty of dangerous charging during their Guinness Premiership game against Gloucester at Sixways during their opening game of the season.
Little received an 11- week ban — one week less than the recommended maximum for the offence — for striking opposite number Ross Laidlaw in a Guinness A team game against London Irish last week. The RFU disciplinary panel of Robert Horner ( chairman), Bob Taylor and Peter Budge decided that he should not be eligible to play again until Nov 22 though Saracens have two weeks to appeal.
Mindful of the RFU ‘ gettough’ approach, Gloucester have followed Leicester’s example and banned one of their players for striking an opponent during one of the increasingly competitive Guinness A League games.
Tigers last week took action against England World Cup winner Lewis Moody, imposing a four-week suspension after he struck Leeds’ England Under- 19 captain Jordan Crane.
On this occasion Dean Ryan, the Gloucester coach, has announced a two-week ban for hooker Rob Elloway following Monday night’s 37- 7 A League victory over Bath at Kingsholm.
Elloway was shown the yellow card as the result of an 80th-minute incident, but Gloucester head coach Dean Ryan convened an internal disciplinary hearing after reviewing a tape of the match.
Simon Easterby is poised to make his season’s debut, and possibly incur the displeasure of Ireland coach Eddie O’Sullivan, when he captains
against Cardiff Blues at the Arms Park tonight.
As Easterby plays outside Ireland he is not bound by Irish Rugby Football Union guidelines stipulating that contracted players who toured with the Lions should not appear in competitive rugby until the end of the month.
Llanelli