Wilson banned for three weeks

Ireland A flanker Roger Wilson received the minimum six-week suspension for a head butt in the Churchill Cup match against the…

Ireland A flanker Roger Wilson received the minimum six-week suspension for a head butt in the Churchill Cup match against the New Zealand Maori last Saturday in San Jose. But the 24-year-old Ulsterman had the ban reduced to three weeks by the judiciary officer Robert Horner.

"Due to his excellent disciplinary record before this incident and because of the remorse he showed . . . Roger Wilson's ban was reduced to three weeks from the date of the match," said a spokesperson.

The maximum ban for a head butt is 36 weeks.

Wilson will miss the Plate final against the England Saxons this Saturday in Edmonton, but his participation for Ulster next season is unaffected.

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Ireland missed a place in the final when losing 27-6 to the Maori in a bruising match that saw English referee Andy Small flash three yellow cards as well as Wilson's red.

An Irish team for Saturday will be named today, and coach Michael Bradley will select from a fully fit squad. Connacht's John Muldoon is likely to regain the number-six shirt from Wilson.

Scotland head coach Frank Hadden has voiced concern over a stomach virus affecting players ahead of the weekend's second Test against South Africa.

Glasgow Warriors number eight John Beattie has been floored by the illness and other squad members have symptoms.

Hadden said: "We are just praying this is not the tip of an iceberg."

South Africa won the first Test 36-16 last Saturday.

Gavin Cummiskey

Gavin Cummiskey

Gavin Cummiskey is The Irish Times' Soccer Correspondent