Rugby Digest:Former Ireland and Toulouse secondrow Trevor Brennan has lodged an appeal against the decision of the ERC's independent Disciplinary Committee regarding the misconduct complaint against him arising from the Heineken European Cup game against Ulster Rugby at Stade Ernest Wallon last January, writes Johnny Watterson.
Brennan was found guilty of misconduct under the Heineken Cup Disciplinary Rules after he entered one of the seating areas in the stadium and struck an Ulster spectator, Patrick Bamford. The Disciplinary Committee subsequently imposed a lifetime suspension on the player from playing and also imposed a lifetime ban on him from participating, in any capacity, in tournaments organised by ERC.
The former Barnhall and St Mary's College player was also fined €25,000 and was ordered to pay €5,000 compensation to Mr Bamford and the costs of convening the hearing.
A date for the appeal to be heard, and the composition of the independent Appeal Committee, will be confirmed as soon as practicable.
CELTIC LEAGUE:One of the three professional Scottish rugby franchises, Border Reivers, is to be scrapped at the end of this season. Some players have been transferred to the Glasgow Warriors side, although many will be out of a job. Following a review of the game in Scotland, the Scottish Rugby Union released the following statement.
"The Scottish Rugby Board has decided to provide additional funding to its Glasgow Warriors pro team to enable it to strengthen and increase the squad size and invest in improved facilities.This will be made possible by the Board's decision to close the Border Reivers at the end of this season, which will result in a number of Reivers players transferring to the Warriors . . . . Professional rugby in Scotland has struggled since the sport turned professional in 1995. In that period, Scottish Rugby has invested around £30 million in its various pro teams, yet the concept of pro team rugby in Scotland has never fully taken off."
REFEREEING:Aoife McCarthy has made Irish rugby history by becoming the first Irish female international referee. McCarthy has been appointed to referee in the upcoming FIRA-AER European Women's Tournament which takes place in Belgium in April.
A school teacher from Dublin, she is a member of the Association of Referees, Leinster Branch IRFU and has been refereeing for two years.The former Blackrock RFC flanker comes from an experienced playing background and has represented Leinster 18 times at interprovincial level.
