August gets Cup final backing from Grewcock

MUNSTER’S Heineken Cup final opponents Biarritz hope Benoit August will escape suspension for the Cardiff showdown thanks to the support of an unlikely source — Danny Grewcock, the Bath second row August is accused of gouging in their semi-final meeting.

Grewcock, no stranger to disciplinary proceedings, has cleared August of blame ahead of an ERC disciplinary meeting in Dublin tomorrow.

Biarritz and France lock Jerome Thion said yesterday: “Danny Grewcock has written a letter supporting Benoit to the ERC, and we hope this will allow Benoit to play for us against Munster.”

Sources in Biarritz indicate the club hopes to persuade Grewcock to attend August’s disciplinary hearing in person.

Nevertheless, the French champions remain worried about the hooker’s availability. French Ligue President and Biarritz legend Serge Blanco admitted yesterday: “We’re anxious, of course. You’re always anxious in this kind of situation, but August is not that type of player. He has never been suspended in his career, and we hope that is taken into account at tomorrow’s hearing.”

Blanco was unperturbed by the huge take-up of tickets by Munster fans travelling to Biarritz to snap up the French club’s allocation. Though the Biarritz ticket office ran out of e50 tickets yesterday, club sources indicated there were “plenty” of e65 tickets remaining.

Blanco welcomed the influx of Munster fans, such as the exile who snapped up 150 tickets for an unnamed Limerick club yesterday. “It’s not a problem, not a problem at all,” said Blanco.

“The two teams are very different. Biarritz is a town of perhaps 35,000 people, while Munster is far bigger.

“We wanted to make sure all our fans got tickets and we’re happy their needs have been met. It’s great to meet Munster people and to see them coming to our city.”