Italy bottom of discipline stakes

PLANET RUGBY:IRISH WHISTLER and former international cricketer Alan Lewis has handed out 14 yellow cards in the Six Nations from a total of 94. In all, Irish referees have shown 22 yellows. Dave McHugh and Donal Courtney have gone to the back pocket three times, while Alan Rolland has dipped in just twice. There have only been three red cards flashed.

It probably comes as little surprise that Italy have accumulated 28 yellow cards.

For the red cards, Walter Cristofoletti for Italy v France walked to an early shower after two yellows; Alessandro Troncon for Italy took the long walk against Ireland in 2001 for hitting, and Scotland lost Scott Murray against Wales in the 2006 championship.

University boys will still be boys

THREE LEICESTER students who conducted an initiation ceremony in which players stripped naked and were pelted with eggs have been suspended from their school team.

The ceremony, performed by De Montfort University players, also involved drinking a “dirty pint” of milk chilli powder.

The suspended members all admitted two offences of conduct prejudicial to the interests of the union and/or game.

A spokesman for the National Union of Students said: “NUS would never condone activities of this nature.”

And they haven’t. At least not during the 100 years it’s been going on.

Harrison ready for hot return

JUSTIN HARRISON is braced for a torrid reception when he lines out for the ACT Brumbies against Western Force next month following an eight-month ban for cocaine use.

The former Wallabies and Ulster secondrow played in a friendly against the Hurricanes, hoping for a fresh start in a career that is noted for it controversy as much as on-field success.

Harrison was at the centre of a drugs storm that rocked English rugby last year. His admission to taking cocaine at an end-of-season party resulted in the Rugby Football Union suspending him for eight months.

Three other members of the Bath side, including the Australia-raised Michael Lipman, declined to be tested and were banned for nine months.

Speaking before his comeback match, Harrison told of his torment.

“I became very insular and my horizons became very narrow. There were many times of sadness,” he said.