WALES: WALES STAR Lee Byrne has been banned from the Six Nations opener against England at Twickenham next week.
Byrne must serve a two-week suspension after admitting a misconduct charge following his brief appearance as a 16th player during the Ospreys’ Heineken Cup victory over Leicester last Saturday.
An European Rugby Cup disciplinary committee, sitting in Dublin yesterday, fined the Ospreys €25,000 after they also pleaded guilty to a misconduct complaint.
But the disciplinary panel ruled there had been “no material effect on the match”. The result therefore stands, and Ospreys will meet Biarritz in this season’s Heineken Cup quarter-finals on April 10th.
Meanwhile, Wales scrumhalf Dwayne Peel has signed a two-year deal with Sale Sharks. The 28-year-old had been expected to re-sign for the Scarlets, the club he left for Sale in 2008, or complete a lucrative move to the French Top 14.
But Sale increased their efforts to keep the former Lions scrumhalf after Richard Wigglesworth announced his intention to leave for Saracens in the summer.
The news is not ideal for Wales coach Warren Gatland because Peel will remain outside of the Welsh Rugby Union’s immediate control.
Weekend Anglo-Welsh Cup Games
Last night– Leeds Carnegie 5 Saracens 28; N-G Dragons 40 Ospreys 19; Leicester 27 Bath 11; Sale 14 Northampton 20.
Today– Gloucester v Worcester, 3pm; Wasps v Scarlets, 5.45pm
Tomorrow– Cardiff Blues v Newcastle, 3pm; London Irish v Harlequins, 3pm.
