London Scottish finally lost patience with Bath's slow-turning wheels of justice yesterday as they cited the European finalists' entire front-row and released a gruesome picture of the bite inflicted on their flanker Simon Fenn during Saturday's Tetley's Cup tie at the Recreation Ground.
As Bath continued to conduct their own inquiry into the incident, Fenn described the unprovoked attack on him by a Bath forward as "barbaric" and expressed surprise the guilty man had not stepped forward. His club have forwarded video and pictorial evidence to both their opponents and the Rugby Football Union who, they feel, should contemplate stiff sanctions.
"One or two people are suggesting Bath should be taken out of the competition, although if that were to occur it would be an RFU decision," stressed Scottish chief executive Richard Yerbury, ironically also a club member of Bath. He has already called for the player responsible to be banned for at least 12 months and indicated London Scottish would seek compensation for both themselves and their flanker.
Fenn, a 26-year-old Australian who joined the club from Manly in Sydney shortly before Christmas, was hurt when a scrum collapsed late in the first-half of the tie which Bath won 24-23 with a last-minute penalty. Still heavily bandaged, he last night finally gave his own version of the events which led to him requiring over 25 stitches.
"I was on the blindside of the scrum which seemed to collapse a little and I fell into what was previously the tunnel," he said. "I immediately felt a bite and a tearing of the skin. It's barbaric. I've got a pretty good idea who did it." Yerbury admits he is "disappointed" the West Country club had not yet acted, and knows the citing of the all-international Bath front row of Kevin Yates, Federico Mendez and Victor Ubogu is only a step towards resolving the matter.
"It's going to take a major gesture from Bath to sort this problem out because it's created absolute chaos.
"People have said to me the police might get involved so you understand why a player might not put his hand up." The RFU have confirmed London Scottish's citing of the front-row within the seven-day limit and Bath must respond by Friday. In a statement, they also reminded everyone that the "onus is on London Scottish to prove to the disciplinary panel which player was responsible".
Footage of the game is understood to have been taken from four camera angles, although not from the temporary stand side where the incident took place. "We've sent Bath a copy of the video we make for training purposes and a video of the injury itself, plus stills from that," revealed Yerbury, whose priority remains Fenn's well-being. It took the player 24 hours before he could face looking at the gaping hole where his lobe used to be and he will be out of the game until next month at the earliest.
Bath would only confirm their own inquiry is continuing and are still trying to gather all available video footage. Denis Hickie and Paddy Johns will be unable to attend tomorrow's Irish squad training session at the ALSAA complex. Hickie is excused because of examinations while the Saracens second row picked up an injury at the weekend.Jan Cunningham will replace Hickie but nobody has been called in to take Johns place. Nick Popplewell will be present but will not play because of his hamstring problem. He is expected to return to action on Saturday week.London Irish's Justin Fitzpatrick will deputise while Young Munster centre Mick Lynch has been called up for the session.
