Kevin Yates, the Bath and England prop cited by London Scottish for alleged ear biting, was still sweating over his future yesterday after a three-man tribunal deferred its decision, writes Robert Armstrong.

The English RFU panel sitting at Twickenham heard from Yates and his fellow members of the Bath pack, as well as from Simon Fenn, the London Scottish forward who suffered a bleeding ear injury. The tribunal, which was chaired by Michael Burton QC, included Jonathan Dance, a solicitor, and Brian Baister, a retired police officer. Roy Manock, the RFU disciplinary officer, also attended the day-long meeting which began at 9.30 a.m. and was adjourned in late evening.