Rugby Union: Grewcock Ban Upheld to End Cup Hopes

Danny Grewcock's prospects of appearing in a third Rugby World Cup were effectively ended last night when the England lock failed to escape a six-week ban for punching. He is now ineligible for the opening two matches of his country's World Cup defence after a European Rugby Cup disciplinary panel in Birmingham threw out his appeal and ordered the Bath forward to pay all their legal costs.

The outcome almost certainly marks the end of the 34-year-old's international career after 69 caps. England's head coach, Brian Ashton, has no shortage of other second-row contenders and will not want to pick a player who is suspended until September 15 and will thus miss the pool games against the United States and South Africa. Having lost his place after the 43-13 thrashing by Ireland in Dublin in February, he may have sensed his Test days were numbered anyway.

Given his less than spotless disciplinary record, the odds were always against a reversal of the original verdict which found Grewcock guilty of punching the French international Thibault Privat during last month's European Challenge Cup final defeat by Clermont Auvergne.

He was sent off against New Zealand in 1998 and missed England's summer tour in 2003 after being sent off at club level for punching Lawrence Dallaglio. He was also cited and suspended following incidents in New Zealand in 2004 and 2005 while representing England and the Lions respectively.

Australia have threatened to cancel their forthcoming Test against South Africa and organise an additional game against New Zealand instead in protest at the Springboks' decision to field a weakened team in their two Tri-Nations away games next month.

Wallabies supporters and the Australian Rugby Union are both furious that the majority of the Springboks' top players are being rested by the coach, Jake White, for their remaining Tri-Nations Tests in Sydney and Christchurch on July 7 and 14. An ARU spokesman accused the South African Rugby Union of "contemptuous" behavior.

The New Zealand Rugby Union's chairman, Jock Hobbs, has also voiced his concern, making little attempt to play down the significance of the row. "We're talking about the integrity and meaningfulness of international rugby," said Hobbs. "It's critical. It's the very heart and soul of our game."

There is a whiff of hypocrisy about New Zealand's concern given that the All Black coach Graham Henry withdrew his leading players from a large chunk of this year's Super 14 competition, prompting complaints from opposing unions and sponsors alike.

This time it is White who insists his players need to recharge their batteries after five successive Tests and is well aware that England, France and Wales all sent weakened squads to the southern hemisphere this summer. The primacy of Test rugby is under strain as never before.

Argentina's Juan Martin Hernandez may be on his way to Leicester after reiterating his desire to leave Stade Français. Leicester, who will be coached next season by the Pumas' coach Marcelo Loffreda, have long admired a player who is keen to switch from full-back to fly-half.

"I have spent four seasons at Stade, winning two championships, and it is time for me to start a new stage in my career," said Hernandez. "I hope to have more news in the week."