Rugby: Healy fined over 'ape' jibe

Austin Healey was today fined by the Lions disciplinary committee for comments which appeared in a newspaper column during the tour of Australia.

The Leicester back told the committee, comprising tour manager Donal Lenihan, coach Graham Henry and captain Martin Johnson, that he did not write the article, in which Australia lock Justin Harrison was called ‘‘an ape’’.

Healey also claimed he did not have the opportunity to check the article and found the comments ‘‘unacceptable’’.

But a statement issued by the committee after a hearing in Dublin today, said the article ‘‘clearly brought the Lions into disrepute’’.

It added: ‘‘The committee accepts Mr Healey’s submission that he regrets the incident and intended no disrespect to the Lions or the tour management.

‘‘Ultimately, however, the incident was a serious one that did harm to the tour and the Lions, and therefore a fine has been imposed.’’