Ospreys appeal Henson ban

EUROPEAN Rugby Cup has confirmed that Ospreys have made an official appeal against Wales centre Gavin Henson’s 10 weeks and two days ban.

An independent appeal committee will be appointed to hear the appeal and be convened as soon as is practicable.

However, it is unlikely to take place before Friday.

As it stands, Henson will miss the first three games of Wales’ Six Nations defence after being found guilty of elbowing Leicester prop Alex Moreno.

On 23 December an ERC disciplinary panel found Henson, 23, guilty of elbowing Moreno in a fractious Heineken Cup victory in Swansea.

Henson’s current ban rules him out of all rugby until 5 March, while Evans is out until 19 February.

That includes Six Nations matches against England, Scotland and Ireland, Celtic League games and the final two Heineken Cup pool fixtures.

Fighting the case risks an extension of the ban, but the penalties could be slashed or remain unchanged.

Wales coach Mike Ruddock believes the Ospreys have a case to appeal against Henson’s 10-week ban.

“No doubt Gavin has a case to answer, but I am not sure if the length of ban is spot-on,” Ruddock told Sportsweek.

Ruddock said Henson was guilty of foul play, but believes rugby’s disciplinary bodies are lacking consistency.

He pointed to two recent incidents in which players received lesser bans for elbowing.

France captain Fabien Pelous was banned for nine weeks for elbowing Australia’s Brendan Cannon in November, while South Africa skipper Jon Smit got a six-week ban for striking France’s Jerome Thion.