Quinlan backed to the hilt

Munster rugby chiefs have vowed to launch a stout defence of back row forward Alan Quinlan, who appears before a Heineken Cup citing commission in Dublin this evening.

Quinlan was cited after Saturday’s Heineken Cup victory over Cardiff Blues by Commissioner Alan Mansell for an alleged stamping incident in contravention of Law 10.4 (b).

The independent disciplinary committee will be chaired by Christopher Quinlan (England) and will also comprise Bruce Reece-Russel (England) and Iain Goodall (Scotland).

The 32-year-old flanker will be accompanied to the hearing by Munster CEO Garret Fitzgerald and communications manager Pat Geraghty.

“We will do everything in our power to defend Alan and will put up as strong a defence as is possible,” said a Munster spokesman last night.

It is believed Mr Mansell’s citing centres on an alleged stamping incident late in the second half of the Pool Four tie.

However, if there were aggravating or mitigating circumstances surrounding the incident, Quinlan could escape censure and be eligible to play in next week’s Magners League tie against Leinster.

If charged at the hearing before the three-man independent committee, Quinlan could face an IRB sanction ranging between four and 18 weeks.

As the game was televised live, the citing commissioner can pick up on any incidents from a range of TV angles.

It will be a huge blow to Quinlan if found guilty of stamping. The Limerick Junction native has returned to his best form judging by his last two appearances for his province in the Heineken Cup. After Saturday’s display, where he scored the all-important bonus- point try, he is almost certainly back in the reckoning for a place in Eddie O’Sullivan’s RBS Six Nations squad.

The No 6 is competing for a place alongside incumbent Neil Best (Ulster), Simon Easterby (Llanelli) and Stephen Ferris (Ulster). If handed a minimum four-week charge, Quinlan will miss the next three Magners League games against Leinster (December 27), Connacht (December 31) and Dragons (January 5) but would be eligible to play against Bourgoin in the Heineken Cup Pool Four match in Geneva on January 14.

Former Leinster forward Ben Gissing, now with Rugby Calvisano, will also appear before the same independent disciplinary committee tonight as a result of a citing arising from the round three Heineken Cup Pool Three match against the Ospreys at Centro Sportivo San Michele on Saturday, December 9.

As the match was not televised live, a citing commissioner was not on duty.

The player was cited by the Ospreys and, after a review of the alleged punching incident by the independent citing officer, it was ruled he should be subject to a disciplinary hearing.