Rugby Digest/Six Nations: Benoit Baby, France's try-scoring debutant centre in their 26-19 win over Ireland, faces a minimum six-week suspension if found guilty of headbutting Brian O'Driscoll during the second half of last Saturday's game at Lansdowne Road, writes Gerry Thornley.
The Six Nations committee yesterday confirmed that, as expected, the 22-year-old Stade Toulousain player has been cited by the independent citing commissioner, Bill Dunlop of Scotland, "for an incident contrary to IRB Law 10.4 (a) during the RBS Six Nations Ireland v France match at Lansdowne Road on Saturday March 12th. In accordance with IRB Regulation 17 a hearing will be held on Wednesday, March 16th, with the three-man discipline committee chaired by Robert Horner (England)."
The disciplinary committee is likely to include former Scottish lock Peter Brown and Terry Vaux of Wales and will probably take place at a Heathrow hotel tomorrow.
The IRB's guidelines with regard to suspensions for a player found guilty of head-butting range from six weeks to six months to 12 months, with a maximum penalty of 24 months.
Given Baby's age and disciplinary record, a suspension at the lower end of the recommended scale would seem likely if he is found guilty.
ENGLAND: Newcastle have put a positive spin on Jonny Wilkinson's latest injury setback, but severe doubts remain about his chances of making the Lions tour this summer.
The Falcons confirmed following a scan that England skipper Wilkinson has suffered another medial ligament problem with his left knee.
Wilkinson was carried off during his comeback appearance against English Premiership opponents Harlequins on Sunday, having been sidelined for nine weeks after hurting the same knee during a European Cup defeat in Perpignan.
But while Newcastle rugby director Rob Andrew revealed he felt "some sense of relief" that the injury bulletin was not a lot worse, Wilkinson is clearly fighting to save his season and tour New Zealand with the Lions.
Newcastle refused to speculate on how long their star outhalf might be sidelined, but another two month lay-off, which seems a realistic estimate, would surely end his Lions hopes.
Lions head coach Clive Woodward is due to name the squad on April 11th, with departure date inked in for May 25th.
He could conceivably still select Wilkinson in the playing party, given that the first Test against the All Blacks is not until June 25th. But it would be a huge gamble.
The 25-year-old has not played Test rugby since England were crowned world champions in Sydney 16 months ago.
During that time, he was out for eight months with a career-threatening neck and shoulder problem, then he suffered a bicep injury which meant another two months sidelined, before his first knee injury meant an absence between early January and mid-March.
"An injury is never good news, but this could have been so much worse, so there is some sense of relief," said Andrew.
"Jonny has shown in recent years that he has the strength of character to get over a blow such as this, and I am sure he will return stronger than ever, such is his amazing determination.
"We won't be making any comments at this stage as to when Jonny might return.
"But we are just thankful that there is no damage to the anterior cruciate ligament, which would have meant a much longer period out of the game."
Newcastle say Wilkinson is awaiting comparisons to be made between the old and new knee injury scans.
They also added that "preliminary reports" suggested his injury was "not as bad as first thought".
NEW ZEALAND: Warren Gatland has been confirmed as the new coach of Waikato. The former New Zealand and Waikato hooker is coaching Wasps, but announced earlier in the year he was heading home to New Zealand after nine seasons in the Northern Hemisphere where he has had spells coaching Connacht and the Ireland national team.
He has had great success at Wasps, with the team winning two Premiership titles and the 2004 European Cup during his tenure. The side are currently second in the Premiership.
Gatland will take over as head coach of National Provincial Championship side Waikato from July for three seasons.
AUSTRALIA: Australian outhalf Stephen Larkham has had an operation to remove a cancerous melanoma from his left leg and now faces an anxious wait for the all-clear.
Doctors are confident they have caught all the cancer. But the final results of the surgery, which Larkham underwent on Saturday, will not be known until early next week.
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