Blunder frees August to play in final

BIARRITZ forward Benoit August is free to play in the Heineken Cup final after an astonishing blunder by the tournament organisers.

August was reported by Irish citing commissioner John West for an alleged dangerous tackle on Bath lock Danny Grewcock, in which he appeared to make contact with Grewcock’s eye, during Biarritz’s semi-final victory over the English club in San Sebastian a fortnight ago.

Tournament disciplinary rules, however, state that the commissioner, who is installed for live televised matches, and the match referee — in this case West’s fellow Irishman Alain Rolland — must be drawn from different countries.