Francis taken to task over T shirt gaffe

NEIL FRANCIS has been disciplined for breaching the Ireland players' contract by hearing an inappropriate sponsor's logo during official training.

The Ireland manager, Pat Whelan, confirmed yesterday that he met the second row player at the weekend and what he deemed "appropriate disciplinary action" had been taken against Francis for wearing a T shirt advertising a housing development company on the Thursday before the Scotland match.

This contravened the agreement that, once the team assembles for and international, the gear worn carries the logo of the team sponsors, Irish Permanent Plc.

Francis only compounded the transgression by appearing in a television interview wearing the T shirt. The team sponsors, understandably, raised objections. Significantly, it had been announced that morning that Francis had purchased a house built by the firm whose name appeared on the T shirt.

"I do not think any useful purpose would be served in announcing what disciplinary action has been taken," Whelan said yesterday. "I think it is a matter between the player and the IRFU and I was given authority by the IRFU to deal with it.

"Neil Francis now fully understands the position and I doubt very much if we will see any further transgressions by him or anyone else in the squad. I took into account the fact that the contracts had just been signed.

"But there will be no room for any further breaches or misunderstandings on all which the contracts embrace," said Whelan. He would not confirm that the disciplinary action he took includes a fine.

Ireland international scrum half Niall Hogan, who was out of the game at the start of the season because of a shoulder operation and was subsequently second choice to Alain Rolland for Leinster this season, has been named in the Leinster side to meet New South Wales on Friday night at Lansdowne Road (7.15). Hogan's inclusion is at the request of the Ireland selectors.

Hogan and Rolland are two of the three scrum halves in the Ireland squad, but Hogan has been the choice of the selectors as he has been the bench reserve on the Ireland side to Chris Saverimutto.

The team shows four changes in personnel from the side that lost to Cardiff in the semi final of the European Cup at the end of last month. Three of the changes are in the back line. In addition to Hogan for Roll and, Fergal Campion will play at outside half in place of McGowan, ruled out because of illness.

Campion has previously represented the province at senior level. Niall Woods returns on the wing, the berth filled by Conor O'Shea against Cardiff. O'Shea knot available because London Irish are engaged in a cup tie on Saturday.

In any case, he would have been considered for the full back berth filled by Ciaran Clarke.

The Leinster match against New, South Wales, allied to the fact that there is an Ireland squad session Dublin on Sunday, has picked the Leinster Branch with pre refixing the three Leinster Cup first round ties that were postponed last Saturday.

"We have to taken those circumstances into account," said branch honorary secretary Sandy Heffernan yesterday. We are in contact with the clubs and will make a decision as soon as possible on new dates for the cup ties."