DLSP prop hit with ten-year ban for misconduct

DLSP’s Mark Kavanagh has been hit with a whopping ten-year rugby ban by the IRFU’s Leinster branch after an incident in Palmerstown’s Metropolitan Cup clash with Monkstown last week.

A special disciplinary hearing found that the prop was guilty of misconduct, bringing the game into disrepute and physical abuse of the referee, Simon Rogan.

Said branch secretary Dorothy Collins: “Physical and verbal abuse of match officials will not be tolerated in Leinster Rugby. The sentence confirms that stance and we hope that it will prevent future incidents from occurring.”

Meanwhile, Matt Stevens says he is ready to fulfil his Lions dream after overcoming a knee injury and signing a new three-year contract with Bath.

The England prop suffered a knee ligament strain during Bath’s Zurich Premiership victory against London Irish 18 days ago. It initially cast doubt over the 22-year-old’s chances of touring New Zealand with the Lions this summer, giving coach Clive Woodward cause for concern in a front-row department where injuries have proved a recurring theme.

Leicester prop Graham Rowntree is currently battling back to fitness following a knee injury, although he could be involved in tomorrow’s Zurich Premiership final against Wasps, while Gloucester’s Phil Vickery (broken arm) looks unlikely to win his race for a seat on the plane.

However, New Zealand hooker Anton Oliver is fighting to be fit for the first Test against the Lions. The Highlanders skipper damaged his calf in last weekend’s Super 12 loss to the Crusaders.

Oliver feared at first he had ruptured his Achilles tendon but an initial diagnosis revealed a strained calf muscle.

Team doctor Stu McMain has said the results of scans confirmed the calf strain and that Oliver would be out for six weeks.

“The results didn’t contain any surprises for us,” McMain said. “So Anton will be out for six weeks as he goes through the rehabilitative period.”