Rugby chiefs wait on garda probe

NATIONAL and Munster rugby chiefs are adopting a wait-and-see stance after a controversial incident during a provincial underage game in Limerick on Sunday.

A garda investigation has been launched into an alleged assault by an adult on a teenage player during Shannon’s North Munster U-15 tie with Bruff at Kilballyowen Park which was subsequently abandoned by the match officials

The outcome could have huge implications for the Shannon club who last week lost an appeal against a €25,000 fine imposed by IRFU disciplinary chiefs following a verbal assault on international referee George Clancy.

One of the stipulations of the ruling was that the club would suffer an immediate reduction of six AIB league points in the event of any further misconduct against the club on or before May 31 of this year.

Last night Munster Branch president Declan Madden explained that a garda investigation ‘supersedes anything we can do right now’.

He explained: “In a normal situation we would get the referee’s report and we would start investigating the issue ourselves and we intend setting up a sub-committee to look into what has gone on. “Unfortunately, in this case it goes beyond that because it appears there has been a complaint made to the gardaí and that (probably) supersedes anything we can do right now.

“That (normal) process is for the referee to issue a report, for us to set up a hearing, provide a committee to look at the issues and take all the facts into account.

“We then make a suitable decision from within our own rules; if people are not happy with the outcome of that they have the right to appeal that decision, but in this instance we will have to wait and watch developments,” he said.