Rugby Shorts:England captain Phil Vickery has been suspended until Christmas Day after pleading guilty to trampling on Clermont Auvergne lock Thibault Privat.
Vickery was cited for the incident, which occurred in Wasps' 37-27 Heineken European Cup defeat on December 8th, when television pictures showed he deliberately stood on Privat's leg.
An independent disciplinary commission yesterday issued a two-week suspension, which was back-dated to December 12th when Wasps handed down their own internal ban. As a result, Vickery missed last weekend's 25-24 home win over Clermont Auvergne and he will sit out the Premiership trip to Bristol on Saturday. Vickery will be clear to play in Wasps' home league game against Bath on December 29th.
Vickery's disciplinary hearing in Glasgow followed that of England international team-mate Perry Freshwater. The Perpignan prop had earlier pleaded guilty to striking London Irish lock Kieran Roche and was handed a four-week suspension. Freshwater was cited after he lashed out during Perpignan's European Cup victory on Saturday and left Roche with a fractured eye socket.
Death of Frank Anderson
It is with deep regret the rugby world learnt of the death yesterday morning of Frank Anderson. A life member of Athy Rugby Club (where he served in many positions, including president) and the Association of Referees Leinster Branch (ARLB), Anderson started playing when he was a schoolboy in Kilkenny College.
He was involved in many successful campaigns with his beloved Athy before taking up the whistle. His status in the ARLB is iconic; after a lengthy refereeing career he proved to be equally adept as an administrator where he nurtured and encouraged many of his successors.
He was a stalwart of Athy RFC throughout his life and was pre-deceased by his wife Sylvia.
Horgan sidelined
The injury to Shane Horgan's ribs is not as bad as first thought, although he could be sidelined for some weeks, writes Johnny Watterson. The Leinster winger, who left the field last weekend during Leinster's European Cup match against Edinburgh following a heavy tackle, has no fracture but has damaged cartilage.
At a press conference in Dublin yesterday coach Michael Cheika said Horgan would be rested and maybe would be out for as much time as he would have been had he broken his ribs.
Brian O'Driscoll will wait for medical advice on his problematic ankle. Doctors will decide whether he will rest or continue to play, although he is named on the 26-man squad to face Ulster in the Magners Celtic League on St Stephen's Day at the RDS.
LEINSTER SQUAD:Forwards: J Gomez, C Healy, O le Roux, B Blaney, B Jackman, S Knoop, S Wright, L Cullen, C Jowitt, M O'Kelly, K Gleeson, S Jennings, S Keogh, Jamie Heaslip. Backs: C Keane, C Willis, G Easterby, F Contepomi, J Sexton, C Warner, G D'Arcy, B O'Driscoll, G Brown, L Fitzgerald, R Kearney, G Dempsey.
Barkley on assault charge
England outhalf Olly Barkley has been charged with assault following an alleged brawl at a wedding, police said yesterday.
The 26-year-old Bath player is alleged to have attacked a fellow guest at a reception at Stowe School in Buckinghamshire this summer.
He is due to appear before Aylesbury Magistrates' Court on New Year's Eve charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm in July.
