Leinster pair off hook on racism charges

LEINSTER duo Steven Sykes and Heinke van der Merwe appear to have been exonerated of claims they racially abused Northampton prop Brian Mujati during the friendly at Donnybrook on Friday.

Zimbabewan Mujati wrote on his Twitter account that the South African duo called him “a baboon” during scrums, but a Leinster statement claimed an exchange between Sykes and van der Merwe had been misinterpreted.

The statement read: “Following the allegations made by a Northampton Saints player, Leinster Rugby acknowledge there was an exchange during the match between two Leinster players which was misinterpreted.