Today's other stories in brief

Twist in programme

The man caught on camera lashing out at a Clermont Auvergne player in the 58th minute of Saturday's Heineken European Cup clash between Wasps and the French side at Adams Park is an employee of the English RFU and a former Wasps captain.

The spectator, Alan Black, seemed to aim a blow at Clermont's Argentinian prop Martin Scelzo when a fight spilt over the touchline.

Black, who works as a leisure rugby manager for the RFU, was thrown out of Adams Park and the Wasps chief executive, Tony Copsey, promised a full investigation.

Copsey admitted, "An individual was identified and expelled from the ground immediately. It was an unfortunate incident because something of this nature has never happened before. The club will consider its position . . . We won't overreact to the situation but want to look at it in its fullness. A season or lifetime ban might be forthcoming."

Wasps captain Lawrence Dallaglio offered a slightly different reaction: "Let's get it into perspective. A guy throws six punches and gets yellow-carded whereas another guy hits someone with a programme.

"The incident has to be taken in the context of what happened previously - a guy had thrown a load of punches."

ERC have said they too will investigate.

Van Niekerk to sue

The Springbok backrow Joe van Niekerk is to sue Northampton Saints after the English club pulled out of honouring a three-year contract.

The Saints cited medical reasons for opting out of the deal with van Niekerk, who has since passed a full medical and joined the Lions Super 14 outfit at pre-season training.

Northampton chief executive Allan Robson said in a statement last month, "Having signed a contract with the club in May, Joe unfortunately sustained a spinal injury. Following this injury, our medical team was unable to provide a satisfactory report regarding Joe's fitness. As a consequence, the contract concluded earlier in the year is no longer valid."

Not surprisingly the player sees the situation otherwise and is adamant he was fit enough to take up the contract. A statement made by his mother and agent, Cathy van Niekerk, pointed out the matter was "in the hands of the lawyers".

Van Niekerk missed South Africa's World Cup campaign in France because of the injury.

Deans to face Ireland

Ireland will provide the opposition, next June, for Australia's first game under their new head coach, Robbie Deans.

The New Zealand-born Deans admitted he had consulted his compatriot John Wright, who coached the Indian cricket team, before deciding to go for the Aussie job.

"One of the questions I put to him [ Wright] was, 'What is it like to coach against your own nation?' And he said 'it's fantastic. It's like competing against your brother in the backyard. It's the one you really want'."

Deans (48), who was overlooked for the All Blacks coaching job, will lead the Crusaders in the Super 14 before taking over the Wallabies full-time - leaving him just a few short weeks before Australia's international programme begins - and is confident one position will not compromise the other.

"I will complete my obligations to the Crusaders and then I commence my obligations to the Wallabies," he said.

Exiles demand action

London Irish are keen disciplinary action is taken after their flanker Kieran Roche was taken to hospital with serious facial injuries after the side's 23-6 European Cup defeat by Perpignan at Stade Aime Giral on Saturday.

Perpignan's England international Perry Freshwater is believed to have caught Roche with an elbow. The Exiles' director of rugby, Brian Smith, pointed out: "There were two key moments in the game for us - one was when Perry Freshwater took Kieran Roche out of the game. Losing him in the lineout was crucial.

"The second was the Armitage yellow card and the resulting soft try. A seven-point gap that late in the game was always going to be tough to come back from. As far as Roche is concerned, he's gone to hospital. He's currently blind in his left eye."

"We had issues last week when one of our players was stamped on the head. We've written to European Rugby Cup and had no response."

London Irish veteran Mike Catt has defended his England team-mate Freshwater, saying: "I know Perry and he's not a malicious player."

Quote of the week . ..

The word coming out of the Harlequins camp is that they've had a right old beasting this week, particularly on full contact.

- Bristol coach Richard Hill before yesterday's game, which Bristol won. It seems Harlequins overdid their preparations.