Sale star Ormsby a doubt for Reds tie

SALE Sharks second row Kristian Ormsby is a doubt for his Sunday’s Heineken Cup clash with Munster at Edgeley Park.

The 6ft 4ins, 18 st giant faces an independent disciplinary committee in Dublin tomorrow following an incident during the away win over Clermont Auvergne Saturday.

The citing lodged by the city commissioner for that match, Achille Reali (Italy), is for the alleged punching/dangerous charge on Clermont second-row Julien Pierre in contravention of Law 10.4 (a) and 10. 4 (b).

Rudi Keil, the Sale Sharks replacement centre, is also due to appear before the same committee to answer charges of an alleged dangerous tackle/striking/playing Clermont centre Benoit Baby without the ball in contravention of Law 10.4 (a), 10.4 (e) and 10.4 (f) during that game.

Two other distinguished international players, scrum-halves Byron Kelleher and Justin Marshall, also face hearings following weekend citings.

Meanwhile, Sale centre Lee Thomas will be sidelined until the new year, after suffering a severe and complex dislocation of the shoulder. Thomas will undergo surgery at the Alexandra Hospital in Cheadle today, and his recovery time is expected to be three months. The 24-year-old was injured just 12 minutes into Sale’s 32-15 Heineken Cup victory over Clermont Auvergne on Saturday. Scrum-half Dwayne Peel suffered a ‘stinger’ to the shoulder, but Sale hope the Wales international will be available to face Munster this weekend. Full-back Mathew Tait and prop Andrew Sheridan are also expected to be fit, after missing the historic victory in France with arm and hamstring injuries respectively.

Munster were due to name their squad yesterday but have delayed an announcement until today.

Elsewhere, Niall O’Donovan, out of the game since failing to find a place in Declan Kidney’s Irish management, has been appointed Ireland A assistant coach, working with coach Michael Bradley and manager Joey Miles.

Nigel Carolan has been appointed assistant coach to the Irish U20s. He has been working with the Connacht Academy and will continue to do so. He joins the High Performance Manager Allen Clarke who will coach the side with Philip Orr as manager