Saints duo in the clear

Northampton forwards Budge Pountney and Matt Stewart have had citing complaints made against them by Heineken Cup rivals Biarritz dismissed.

The pair were cited for alleged foul play during the Saints' 23-20 defeat at Parc des Sports Aguilera on October 19, and faced a disciplinary hearing in Dublin.

The independent three-man disciplinary panel rejected the citings and also threw out Northampton's complaint against Biarritz forward Thomas Lievremont for punching.

Flanker Pountney and prop Stewart were both charged with reckless use of the boot, but the European Rugby Cup panel decided match referee Alain Rolland had taken sufficient action by penalising them both.

The ruling means they are now available for Northampton's Zurich Premiership trip to Gloucester on Saturday.

Lievremont's case was rejected because the panel ruled that Northampton had not made their complaint within a 50-hour time limit from kick-off.