European Cup: Trevor Brennan avoided a suspension yesterday despite being found guilty of "trampling" in the Heineken European Cup opening round defeat to Ulster on October 21st.

A committee chaired by Jeff Blackett (England) and consisting of Rob Flockhart (Scotland) and Jeremy Summers (England) upheld the citing by match commissioner Iain Goodall under rule 10.4 (b), but they "determined that the offence would not have warranted a red card and decided no sanction should be imposed".

Brennan is now free to play in round three of the competition, away to Llanelli on December 9th.

So too is team-mate Omar Hasan, who was exonerated of foul play under the same rule, this time for stamping, at yesterday's hearing in London.

However, the third Toulouse player in the dock, Italian international Salvatore Perugini, received a five-week suspension for striking an Ulster player, so he will miss the trip to Stradey Park but is available for the round four tie at home to the Scarlets on December 16th.

Leinster's Owen Finegan is next before an ERC disciplinary committee tomorrow afternoon after being cited for stamping, again under rule 10.4 (b), in the defeat to Edinburgh at Murrayfield on October 29th.

The solicitor and former Leinster player Ciarán Callan will accompany Finegan to the hearing at the ERC offices in Dublin. The chairman for proceedings is England's Chris Quinlan, who is joined by Anthony Davis (England) and Roger Morris (Wales).

Northampton's Chris Budgen and Ross Ford of the Border Reivers must also attend separate disciplinary hearings in Dublin.

Meanwhile, Paul O'Connell has been shortlisted for the IRB world player of the year award. The Munster lock is joined by an impressive list of candidates as New Zealand captain Richie McCaw and outhalf Dan Carter, Australian fullback Chris Latham and South African scrumhalf Fourie du Preez make up the five-man list.

The winner will be announced in Glasgow on November 26th.

"The IRB player of the year award is the ultimate accolade for a player to receive and rewards the highest achiever in the game over the past 12 months. The award takes into account the Test calendar from January to November 2006 and includes the Six Nations Championship, Tri-Nations series and the June Tests," said IRB chairman Dr Syd Millar.

"The list of past winners of this prestigious award reads like a who's who in the game, with Schalk Burger, current nominee Dan Carter, Jonny Wilkinson, Fabien Galthie and Keith Wood all receiving the top prize."

The nominees were considered by a panel of judges, made up of former internationals with 503 caps between them: Francois Pienaar, Michael Jones, Fabien Galthie, Wood, Gavin Hastings, Jonathan Davies, Dan Lyle, Federico Mendez and John Eales.

The panel, who also vote on the IRB Coach and Team of the Year, will select the winner after the November Test schedule.

Connacht have signed former London Irish captain and secondrow Ryan Strudwick. The 33-year-old South African has signed a week-to-week contract for the season.