Leinster decide not to cite Bory

LEINSTER have decided not to cite Montferrand wing David Bory — but the French international could still find himself in hot water with his club and may yet miss the return Heineken Cup fixture at Donnybrook this weekend.

Following legal advice, Leinster

decided against pressing a citing charge, even though star wing Gordon D'Arcy will be out of action for more than a month after being kneed in the back in the act of scoring a try on

Saturday.

Leinster were particularly annoyed that the incident went unpunished and D'Arcy spent Saturday and Sunday nights in Tallaght Hospital recovering from a back injury.

That recovery will continue over the next number of weeks. He has already been ruled out of the return game and has also been forced to withdraw from the Irish squad for a warm-weather training week in Lanzarote.

Leinster team manager Ken Ging yesterday issued a statement on the matter, highlighting the fact that the video evidence was not conclusive enough to prove that Bory set out to injure D'Arcy with intent.

"Despite the video and photographic evidence at our disposal, we have decided not to take the matter any

further.

"That decision was arrived at

following consultation with legal

experts who have judicial experience. We were advised not to pursue the matter."

The manager did point out that, while Bory's abject apology to D'Arcy at the end of the game was accepted

in the spirit of the game, Leinster

were prepared to go to any lengths

to protect their players in future.

"We are fully aware of our responsibilities to our players and we will

continue to endeavour to protect them from foul play."

Although D'Arcy will be out with severe bruising of his lower left back for some time, the manager expressed his delight that the player will make a relatively speedy recovery.

He was released from hospital

yesterday and x-rays revealed there was no fracture of any bones as first feared.

D'Arcy was stretchered from the pitch after scoring his try in Leinster's famous first Heineken Cup win in France. He was taken to the team charter flight by bus with the help of his colleagues and confined to a wheelchair on the way on and off the aircraft.

Leinster Lions spokesman Tom

McCormack admitted yesterday the Montferrand club were highly

embarrassed by the incident which blighted the occasion.

"The word we have is that they may take some sanction against the player themselves, although they pointed out that it was totally out of character for the Bory.

"In fairness to Montferrand, it was a great occasion and we couldn't have been looked after better. There were no other problems."

There is still, however, a level of opinion within the Leinster camp that ERC should be more proactive in such instances and that not enough is being done to ensure offences not noticed by the match officials can be acted upon quickly afterwards, if need be, without the aggrieved side having to consider taking action.

Meanwhile, on a more positive note for the Pool Four leaders, it appears that Malcolm O'Kelly could be back in the Leinster side for the return game this weekend.

O'Kelly was sorely missed for his

lineout work in Montferrand. He was ruled out after suffering a back spasm during a previous game against the Scottish Borders.

Further good news for Leinster is that Keith Gleeson successfully came through the game despite carrying an ankle injury and, of course, a major boost was the return of Nathan Spooner, out in recent months with a shoulder injury.

The Australian came on with five minutes of normal time left and set up a match-winning try albeit a

controversial one for Irish international Denis Hickie.