RUGBY:OLIVIER AZAM, the Gloucester hooker, yesterday lost his appeal against a 12-week suspension levied on him last week for kicking England's captain, Steve Borthwick, in the face during the recent Premiership defeat at Saracens. But the Rugby Football Union disciplinary panel agreed the entry level in terms of intent for the ban should be downgraded.
Azam, who will not be able to play again until December 29th, appealed against the decision of the panel on the grounds that while it accepted the Frenchman had not deliberately made contact with Borthwick last month, it still considered the offence merited the top entry level when it came to intent because the hooker had admitted kicking out after Borthwick grabbed his left ankle.
The Frenchman successfully argued at the appeal hearing that he was trying to free himself, not hurt Borthwick, and that the entry level should have been medium, reducing his ban to eight weeks. But the panel gave him an extra six weeks for his poor disciplinary record – it was his fourth ban – and took two off for his guilty plea. He was given 16 weeks last week with four deducted for mitigating factors.
Azam is the fourth Gloucester player to be suspended this season and means he will not be travelling to his homeland this weekend when the Cherry and Whites take on improving Biarritz in the Heineken Cup on Saturday, having struggled to overcome Newport Gwent Dragons at Kingsholm in the opening round.
The England centre Mike Tindall, who missed last week’s match because of a hamstring strain, is expected to be fit to travel to the Basque region.
Borthwick spent the night in a specialist eye hospital after the incident and has been out of action in the three weeks since because of swelling. He will return for unbeaten Saracens tomorrow against Jonny Wilkinson’s Toulon in the Amlin Challenge Cup clash in France having said that at one point he feared he would lose the sight in his right eye. The seriousness of the injury was another factor behind Azam’s long ban.
The International Rugby Board is set to revamp the international sevens tournaments following rugby union’s inclusion in the 2016 Olympic Games. Wales, Scotland and England will combine to field a Britain team in the tournament but will continue as individual nations in grand prix events. Ireland will field their own side.
It is likely to include players from Northern Ireland who have been capped at any level. Those from the province who have not played representative rugby will probably be given the choice between Britain and Ireland.
London Irish will be without their flanker Steffon Armitage in this weekend’s Heineken Cup pool game against the Scarlets. Armitage has been one of the form players in the country this season but is required to sit out Saturday’s game under the terms of the deal governing England’s elite players.
He is likely to be replaced by the Samoan George Stowers, who has just completed a three-week suspension.
Guardian Service
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