Rugby: Despite having his ban for headbutting reduced on appeal, New Zealand hooker Keven Mealamu will still miss tomorrow's clash with Scotland and next week's match against Ireland at the Aviva Stadium.
Mealamu’s four-week ban has been halved after an International Rugby Board appeal committee accepted that while there had been an offence committed, it was not intentional.
Mealamu was cited last Sunday for head-butting on Lewis Moody during New Zealand’s 26-16 victory over England at Twickenham. New Zealand head coach Graham Henry named the 31-year-old in his starting XV for tomorrow’s match with Scotland at Murrayfield with the All Blacks appealing Tuesday’s decision.
Television footage of the incident showed Mealamu grabbing Moody by the jersey and then diving forward, making contact with the back of the England captain’s head.
The IRB’s citing commissioner John West on Sunday night charged Mealamu with contravening Law 10.4 (a), “striking with the head” and a hearing in Glasgow on Tuesday night issued the suspension, meaning Mealamu was ruled out of the remainder of the northern hemisphere tour.
However, the All Blacks issued a staunch defence of the hooker’s character and partially succeeded in their appeal.
A statement from the independent IRB appeal committee read: “Although they upheld the original decision that there had been an act of foul play, having had the opportunity to review the video footage, the appeal committee concluded that the act was not intentional and that it merited a lower end entry point in the IRB list of sanctions, namely four weeks.
“In view of the compelling mitigating factors and the absence of aggravating factors, this was reduced to two weeks, meaning that Mr Mealamu is free to resume playing on Monday, November 22, 2010.”
The uncapped Hikawera Elliot will line up at hooker for tomorrow’s match against Scotland. The 82-Test veteran will be permitted to return for the November 28th meeting with Wales in Cardiff.