Quinlan hearing delayed by logistics

THE ALAN Quinlan disciplinary hearing arising from Munster’s 25-6 defeat to Leinster last Saturday is unlikely to be convened until early next week. The ERC have begun the process of selecting a three-man independent committee which will contain legal experts and, in most cases, at least one person from a rugby background.

There can be no Irish representative on the panel but the prosecution will be led by an Irishman, ERC disciplinary officer Roger O’Connor, as once the match commissioner makes a citing the ERC become responsible for following disciplinary procedures to their natural conclusion.

“Generally, a hearing takes place in the week after a game, particularly when another round of matches are coming up,” explained ERC spokesman John Corcoran. “As the three-man committee comprises of legal experts and there can be no Irish input it is merely a logistics issue that is holding it up.”

Munster would not confirm the legal team that will represent Quinlan, as it is not yet finalised, against the charge of “acts contrary to good sportsmanship” under Law 10.4 (k). Quinlan is accused of allegedly making contact with the “eye/eye area” of Leinster captain Leo Cullen in the 59th minute of the record-breaking semi-final in Croke Park.

The Leinster coach, Michael Cheika, believed Quinlan’s actions were not intentional and Cullen refused to comment directly on the incident when questioned in the immediate aftermath of the game.

The minimum suspension for eye gouging is 12 weeks.

Details of a hearing date and venue are expected before the weekend with Wednesday tentatively pencilled in as the latest possible day.

Munster, meanwhile, will not be presented with the Magners League trophy until their final game of the season, at Thomond Park against the Ospreys on Friday, May 15th, despite clinching the title last Thursday when the Ospreys failed to attain a bonus point against the Dragons.

Munster travel to the Arms Park in Cardiff on Sunday with several players still suffering from Saturday’s war of attrition. Jerry Flannery is expected to recover from the stinger, which had him writhing in pain and eventually led to his withdrawal, while many of their Lions contingent are expected to be rested now the season is effectively over.

A decision on the Lions replacement scrumhalf for Tomás O’Leary is not expected to be announced until next week.

“The one thing Ian McGeechan said when Tomás suffered his injury was that he would not be rushing into naming a replacement,” said a Lions spokesman.

The Lions management did meet over the weekend, prior to the other semi-final between Leicester and Cardiff, with Scottish captain Mike Blair the bookmakers favourite to be called up.

Leinster will release a squad tomorrow for Friday’s last home game of the season against the Llanelli Scarlets. Cheika is expected to rest most of his front-liners but Luke Fitzgerald, who came off against Munster due to cramp, is expected to be available as is Rob Kearney, who recovered sufficiently from the mumps to perform water-carrying duties at Croke Park.

Ulster coach Matt Williams has named a 25-man squad for Friday’s trip to Galway to face Connacht at the Sportsground. Neither side has anything left to play for as Connacht are 13 points adrift of Ulster and can no longer qualify for the Heineken Cup.

“We have a lot of respect for Connacht,” says Williams, “they are a good side and play a hard game of rugby, but we are more determined than ever and we are going out to win.”

Andrew Trimble, Bryn Cunningham, Paul Steinmetz and TJ Anderson have been ruled out due to injury.

ULSTER SQUAD: Forwards – R Best, B Botha, N Brady, R Caldwell, T Court, R Diack, E O’Donoghue, W Falloon, S Ferris, C Henry, M McCullough, D Pollock, D Roach, B Young. Backs – I Boss, D Cave, S Danielli, R Dewey, I Humphreys, P Marshall, T Nagusa, N O’Connor, C Schifcofske, P Wallace, I Whitten.