Dallaglio Free to Return After One-match Ban

The Wasps captain Lawrence Dallaglio, who is retiring at the end of the season, will be free to play in his club's Premiership run-in after escaping with a one-match ban for punching the Leicester prop Julian White.

Dallaglio was cited for the punch after the EDF Energy Cup semi-final defeat by Leicester in Cardiff last month. Wasps banned him for a week, meaning he missed last Saturday's Premiership match against the Tigers at Welford Road, and a Rugby Football Union disciplinary panel decided that was sufficient punishment. It means Dallaglio is free to play again from today.

Wasps have six league matches left with a potential two more to follow if they reach the play-offs.

"I acknowledge that my actions infringed the rules, although I wish to stress they were unintentional and without any malice," said the 35-year old. "I can now draw a line under this incident and enjoy playing out the rest of my final season."

Harlequins' South African centre De Wet Barry is also free to play again after the same disciplinary panel decided that the red card he received for a late tackle on the Newcastle and England midfielder Mathew Tait at The Stoop last Saturday was punishment enough.

Quins, who are pushing for a play-off spot, feared that the 38-cap centre could miss most of the rest of the regular season, but the panel ruled that the challenge, which left Tait groggy, was late but not premeditated.

Seru Rabeni, Leicester's Fijian center, will miss the rest of the season after being banned for 14 weeks. Last night he was found guilty of making "illegal contact with an the eye of an opponent" during last month's Premiership victory over Saracens at Welford Road.