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.

Because that criteria was not met by European Rugby Cup Limited, a disciplinary hearing in Dublin — attended by August, Biarritz president Marcel Martin and the player’s legal adviser — could not consider the complaint.

The gaffe means August, who captained Biarritz to their 18-9 win against Bath, is available for the May 20 final in Cardiff against Munster.

England forward Grewcock played down the first-half incident, even though he required treatment afterwards, describing it as an accident.

“The independent disciplinary committee noted the citing commissioner came from the IRFU (Irish Rugby Football Union), as did the match referee Alain Rolland,” said ERC, in a statement.

“ERC disciplinary rules require that the referee and the citing commissioner are drawn from different countries.”