Bath pair miss Leinster clash

BATH PAIR BANNED : Bath players Andrew Higgins and David Barnes were each banned for a fortnight when they appeared before English…

BATH PAIR BANNED: Bath players Andrew Higgins and David Barnes were each banned for a fortnight when they appeared before English RFU disciplinary chiefs in London last night.

It means centre Higgins and prop Barnes will miss their club's opening Heineken European Cup games against Leinster and Bourgoin before being able to resume playing on November 1st.

Higgins was sent off during Bath's 18-16 Premiership victory over Gloucester on Saturday after receiving two yellow cards. Barnes was cited for striking an opponent when Bath beat Powergen Cup opponents the Ospreys eight days ago.

2011 WORLD CUP: England's World Cup-winning captain Martin Johnson has urged the International Rugby Board to take the bold step of awarding the 2011 tournament to Japan. The Japan RFU outlined a compelling case at a London briefing yesterday and will spend the next fortnight giving presentations to the European unions ahead of the IRB's final decision on November 17th.

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Johnson said: "This is a fantastic opportunity. When soccer went there for the 2002 World Cup it was a brave step, taking it out of Europe or South America. In rugby terms it is a bold step but you have to do it and make it work."

HENSON BOOK: Welsh Rugby Union group chief executive David Moffett has questioned the advice being given to outspoken Lions centre Gavin Henson, whois courting widespread publicity over his new book My Grand Slam Year. A newspaper serialisation has revealed Henson slamming Lions coach Clive Woodward and tour media consultant Alastair Campbell, in addition to claiming some players talked too much in team meetings. His latest offerings included an accusation Ireland and Lions skipper Brian O'Driscoll tried to gouge him during last season's Six Nations clash.

Moffett said: "My major concern is who, at the moment, is providing the safety net for Gavin? He's a young guy, with a huge amount of potential, but none of us want Gavin to be the sort of person who is remembered for kicking a goal against England and going out with Charlotte Church . . . The question I have would be more at his advisers, and what is going on around this young guy?"