Heaslip has no case to answer

Rugby:Jamie Heaslip will not face charges of gouging after allegations were made public by South Africa following their 15-10 defeat to Ireland at Croke Park last Saturday. The IRFU released a statement this evening confirming the player has no case to answer.

“The Six Nations has confirmed to the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) that none of a number of referrals made by South Africa against Ireland players has been upheld by the independent citing commissioner that was present at the game between Ireland and South Africa in Croke Park on Saturday, November 28th,” the IRFU statement read.

“The Ireland management is however very disappointed that the name of an Ireland player (Heaslip) was subsequently associated with eye gouging in the media as a result of one of these unsubstantiated referrals.

“The Ireland management fully support and believe in the integrity of the citing process in place but believe that any referrals in this process should be made only when they are material and substantial.

“The Ireland management will be making no further comment and consider the matter closed.”

South Africa are understood to have petitioned match commissioner, Scotland’s Douglas Hunter, to examine footage of the game to substantiate their claim that Heaslip had made contact with the eye area of flanker Heinrich Brussow.

The world champions weren’t able to specify exactly when the incident was alleged to have taken place other than to suggest that it was in the second half. Hunter examined the tapes in detail and found that Heaslip had absolutely no case to answer.

It is also believed they also asked for three Irish players to be investigated. One hour after that request they had reduced that number to two and then half an hour later it became one.