RUGBY: Munster have cited Neath Swansea Ospreys right-wing Richard Mustoe following an incident in last Sunday's Heineken European Cup match that left Irish international Marcus Horan with seven stitches in a facial injury. Munster had until 5 p.m. yesterday - a team wishing to cite a player must do so within 50 hours of the kick-off of the match in question - to file their case.
Mustoe was caught by Sky Television cameras flicking back with his foot, his studs catching a prone Horan in the face. The pictures suggest there may be little mitigation for the 22-year-old Ospreys player. The ball was nowhere near the Irish player.
The incident arose following a break by Munster full-back Christian Cullen who passed to Anthony Horgan. Horan was tracking the left wing in support but was tackled early and without by the ball by Mustoe. The prop took umbrage and reacted angrily. Mustoe, as he jumped over the prone Munster player, appeared to first drop his knee slightly and then flick out with the sole of his boot, catching Horan in the face with his studs.
The latter was forced to leave the pitch where seven stitches were inserted in the facial injury before returning to the action. French referee Joel Jutge spotted the first incident but not the second while the touch-judge, a few metres away, also failed to notice the second contact.
Jutge brandished the yellow card at Mustoe for his early tackle (obstruction) and the winger spent 10 minutes in the sin bin. It was felt in the immediate aftermath of the game that because Mustoe was penalised he could not face a second trial. However, he was censured for obstruction and not use of the boot.
ERC's new disciplinary procedure this year means Munster's complaint will be forwarded to a citing officer of the tournament's governing body's choosing. He will review the case to see if there is a case to answer by the player. This step was to remove tit-for-tat citings between teams.
If the citing officer considers there is a case to answer then the chairman of disciplinary panel, Prof Lorne Crear, will put together a panel to hear the case.Another ERC officer, Roger O'Connor, and not Munster (should it arise) would present the case against the player. This is a slight shift in emphasis in that it is ERC who present and prosecute the case.
Munster won't name a side for Saturday's Celtic League game against Ulster at Ravenhill until tomorrow. All four provinces will delay selections as they await Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan's announcement of the 22-man squad for Saturday week's international against South Africa.
O'Sullivan will trim the training squad to a match squad today and will release those players not in the 22 for Celtic League involvement over the weekend. Ulster will be without Paddy Wallace for Saturday's game as he damaged ankle ligaments in the European Cup defeat by Gloucester and could be out for four to six weeks.
There was further bad news for coach Mark McCall when it emerged former Harlequins flanker Tu Tamarua would not to be joining the province. Having agreed terms, Tamarua underwent a medical but he failed this because of a shoulder injury.
A statement released by the Ulster Branch stated: "The IRFU and Ulster rugby demand a very high level of medical investigation before any player is signed. Unfortunately on examination Tu did not complete all aspects of the medical tests. Ulster will now resume their search for back-row cover this season."
Neil McMillan is likely to be out for the rest of the season and this means Ulster are a little short of cover in that respect.
Leinster play Connacht at Donnybrook on Friday night but will be without Gordon D'Arcy, David Quinlan and Victor Costello, both of whom are injured. Costello is carrying a rib injury received during Leinster's win over Bath at the weekend and was forced to withdraw from the Irish squad this week having received a late call-up. Munster flanker Alan Quinlan was called up to deputise.
The news on Leinster prop Emmett Byrne is better as the shoulder injury he suffered against Bath is not as serious as first feared and he could be available for the Connacht match.
Michael Bradley's side have a few bumps and bruises with only number eight John O'Sullivan likely to miss out at this stage. Pieter Myburgh, Peter Bracken and Tom Tierney have been added to the 22-man squad from last weekend.
Meanwhile, the IRFU has announced the distribution of over €90,000 to clubs and schools as part of its rewards' programme for the development of professional players. The programme is aimed at rewarding schools and clubs for nurturing the rugby talent of players who are now part of the professional system with the Irish provinces.
The players are selected on the basis they are all professionally full-time contracted players who have played for their province on at least eight occasions and have completed the first year of their contracts and have had it renewed for a second year. The amount of financial reward is dependent on the period of time each player has received coaching from either schools and/or clubs. The recipients are:
Roger Wilson (Inchmarlo/Dublin University/RBAI/Belfast Harlequins), David Blaney (Terenure College/UCD), Brendan Burke (Barnhall), Shane Jennings (St Mary's Coll/St Mary's Coll), Adrian Clarke (ALSA/Clontarf), John O'Sullivan (Newbridge College/Tralee/Garryowen) Conor O'Loughlin (Marist Coll Athlone/St Saran's/Buccaneers), Conor McPhilips (Templeogue Coll/St Mary's Coll), Maurice Lawler (Ard Scoil Ris/Shannon).
The IRFU last night confirmed they would restore the travel and accommodation allowances of the All-Ireland League clubs to previous levels. "The IRFU has advised all clubs participating in the AIB League that as a consequence of the profit generated from the return of the 700 international tickets provided to the IRFU Commercial programme, the IRFU can now confirm the reinstatement of the travel and accommodation allowances to last year's levels of €337,000."
