Ospreys and Wales full-back Lee Byrne is to appeal his two-week ban imposed after he entered the field as an illegal 16th player.
Byrne was suspended by a European Rugby Cup independent disciplinary committee in Dublin yesterday, ruling him out of Wales’ Six Nations opener against England at Twickenham next Saturday.
Byrne was punished after he featured for almost a minute during the Ospreys’ Heineken Cup victory over Leicester seven days ago, while the Welsh region were fined €25,000.
But Byrne is now to appeal, with Wales coach Warren Gatland delaying his team announcement for the England clash, which he had been due to make tomorrow evening.
Byrne, who missed Wales’ entire autumn Test series this season through injury, has remained with the Wales squad at their training base in the Vale of Glamorgan.
In a statement the Welsh Rugby Union said: “The player has been taking legal advice and will lodge the necessary documents for the appeal no later than next Monday.
“The Wales team announcement ahead of the clash with England was also rescheduled today as head coach Warren Gatland awaits the outcome of the appeal.
“A new time and date for the team announcement and further details of the appeal will be issued when appropriate, but no further comment will be made on the subject until the hearing has taken place.”
If Byrne fails to win his appeal, then Gatland would probably retain James Hook in the number 15 shirt he wore as Byrne’s replacement during the autumn games.
But Byrne is a top-class performer at the highest level, and Gatland clearly feels that he is integral to his plans if Wales are to repeat their Twickenham victory over England of two years ago.