Rugby/News round-up: Paul O'Connell may miss Munster's Heineken European Cup quarter-final against Biarritz on April 3rd after independent match commissioner Paul Mauriac cited the secondrow for striking in Saturday's defeat at the Millennium Stadium.
A three-man disciplinary committee, comprising chairman Lorne Crerar of Scotland, former English prop Jeff Probyn and one other, will convene tomorrow in London to decide O'Connell's fate. He faces charges of punching Welsh lock Robert Sidoli. The two became embroiled in a scuffle late in the second half after a lineout near the Welsh line. Although the big screen showed O'Connell landing blows, English referee Chris White opted to chastise rather than brandish a yellow card.
O'Connell said: "While the incident may have looked a little ugly, there was no malice or wilful intent involved on my part. Robert Sidoli and the referee accepted this in good spirits and once we shook hands, we both got on with it."
Irish coach Eddie O'Sullivan said: "We have been notified of the citing and the hearing. I have spoken with Paul and I accept the interpretation that it was more of a frustrating and harmless scrap with no intent to hurt or injure on his part. Knowing Paul and his reputation, I accept that explanation for something that we all know would be out of character."
A guilty verdict could see O'Connell miss the trip to San Sebastian. However, the minimum two-week ban would mean he is only unavailable for Friday's Celtic League trip to Newport to face the Gwent Dragons.
"His loss would, of course, be enormous," said Munster coach Alan Gaffney. "Wrestling may not have been a great spectacle for television but there was not a whole lot in it. At the time, the referee made no decision and it was not off the ball."
Irish under-21 international Chris Henry has also been called up to the hearing after he was sent off in Friday's defeat to Wales. Video evidence is expected to show the replacement forward was a victim of mistaken identity.
The O'Connell citing has overshadowed the arrival of Brian Lima, who undergoes an IRFU medical in Blackrock Clinic today. The "chiropractor", as he is known worldwide for his approach to tackling, was part of the Samoan side that won the Plate, beating Ireland 19-14 in the quarter-finals of the Hong Kong Sevens last weekend. Lima is a direct replacement for Christian Cullen who requires an operation on his left shoulder.
Leinster also welcome a medal winner from Hong Kong as Fijian lock Ifereimi Rawaqa arrives today.
Keith Gleeson and Leo Cullen continued their return to full fitness in Sunday's victory over Connacht, but neither Shane Horgan nor Gordon D'Arcy have resumed full training. Horgan will have an operation next Monday to remove a pin from his thumb, leaving a doubt over his availability for the Leicester match at Lansdowne Road on April 2nd. Two thousand tickets have been returned from Leicester so stand (€40) and terrace (€15) are still available at the Leinster rugby store in Donnybrook and other regular outlets.
Meanwhile, Gavin Duffy and Johnny O'Connor have been offered contracts to return to Connacht next season. Both are coming to the end of their present deals at NEC Harlequins and Wasps. The Connacht Branch chairman Gerry Kelly will speak to O'Connor today after the latter sits down with Warren Gatland, while further discussions with Duffy are expected later this week. Significantly, Kelly does not expect to be priced out of the market by the English clubs.
"We have offers on the table for both players," he said. "In Johnny's case it is definitely a rugby decision. I don't think Warren and Wasps will be offering more money."
Ireland have dropped to seventh in the world rankings after losing their final two matches of the Six Nations. After a championship that initially promised so much, O'Sullivan's team have sunk to their lowest position since the official IRB lists inception in June 2003.
Mike Ruddock's Wales moved into fifth with England remaining sixth. This is the first time Wales have skipped over Ireland, but they were denied further progress by France's 56-13 victory over Italy, where Salvatore Perugini has also been cited for a dangerous tackle on Christophe Dominici. The Tri-Nations superpowers remain in the top three slots.
Martyn Williams was named player of the tournament. Brian O'Driscoll came second - over five thousand votes in arrears - with other Welsh stars Shane Williams, Stephen Jones and Dwayne Peel close behind. In the team of the championship only Malcolm O'Kelly was recognised alongside O'Driscoll.
