RUGBY NEWS: ENGLAND FLANKER Michael Lipman and two former Bath team-mates face possible career-ending bans after they were charged with drug offences by the Rugby Football Union. Lipman, Alex Crockett and Andrew Higgins, who terminated their Bath contracts on June 1st, will be called before a disciplinary panel, charged with allegedly taking prohibited stances and "wilful refusal" to take drugs tests.
Justin Harrison, the 35-year-old Australian lock, has also been charged. He has left Britain, having asked Bath to end his contract as soon as allegations of brawling at an end-of-season party and drug taking were made. He has retired.
Lipman, Crockett and Higgins said the RFU’s decision “both surprised and disappointed” them and that “any charge brought by the RFU will be vigorously contested. We will do everything possible to clear our names.”
If found guilty, Lipman (29), Crockett (27), and Higgins (27), could face longer bans than the two years given to their former clubmate, the England prop Matt Stevens, earlier this year after he admitted an addiction to cocaine. Under rule 5.12 there are no defined tariffs for punishments.
An RFU statement said the players would be asked “to appear before an RFU disciplinary panel charged with conduct prejudicial to the interests of the game (rule 5.12) on a number of charges, including taking prohibited substances and wilful refusal to take a drugs test. All details of the investigation now form part of the disciplinary process and, to protect the integrity of the process, will remain confidential.”
The RFU said it would be calling players, members of Bath’s management and other witnesses.
Bath chief executive Bob Calleja said in a statement: “The club treat matters relating to drugs very seriously and we are perfectly satisfied that we acted correctly in requiring the players to explain themselves at an internal disciplinary hearing. They chose not to do so and, so far as we are concerned, our internal process is at an end, the players no longer being employed by the club.”
The RFU began its inquiry 18 days ago, immediately after Bath had announced the departures of Lipman, Crockett and Higgins. A former Met police superintendent, Bob Moffat, is known to have questioned the club management and staff at The Church and The Pitcher and Piano, the two London bars where the incidents were said to have taken place. The players are also believed to have offered to make statements.
Sebastien Chabal has been named by France coach Marc Lievremont to face New Zealand in the second Test at Wellington on Saturday.
Chabal, who came on as a replacement in France’s 27-22 first Test victory at Carisbrook last Saturday, replaces Pascal Pape at lock, and was one of three changes to the starting side made by Lievremont.
Centre Maxime Mermoz replaces Mathieu Bastareaud, while Nicholas Mas – a late arrival after his Perpignan side won the French club final – will start at tighthead prop in place of Sylvain Marconnet.
England have cancelled their autumn international against cash-strapped Fiji and will instead play Australia at Twickenham on November 7th.
The RFU has taken the move in a bid to strengthen the financial position of Fijian rugby, which had threatened to prevent them touring altogether.
A “significant portion” of the estimated €8.2 million surplus from the Australia game will be funnelled directly into Fijian rugby.
FRANCE(v New Zealand, Second Test): M Medard; V Clerc, M Mermoz, D Traille, C Heymans; F Trinh-Duc, J Dupuy; F Barcella, W Servat, N Mas, S Chabal, R Millo-Chlusky, T Dusautoir (capt), F Ouedraogo, L Picamoles. Replacements: D Szarzewski, T Domingo, R Martin, D Chouly, D Yachvili, Y Jauzion, M Bastareaud.
