Leicester ponder Cup appeal

Leicester were today considering whether or not to appeal against the English Rugby Football Union’s ruling that the result of their controversial Powergen Cup semi-final defeat against Gloucester stands.

Leicester lost 16-11 but the tie, played at Northampton’s Franklin’s Gardens, ended in a dispute about front-row replacements.

Referee Steve Lander had no option but to rule that two late scrums – when Leicester were attacking ominously – must be uncontested on safety grounds.

Under competition regulations, as compiled by the RFU, Gloucester were left sweating.

Technically, they could have been forced to forfeit the tie, or told to replay it but the RFU’s competitions sub-committee ruled that the tie should stand and gave Leicester 48 hours to lodge an appeal.

Gloucester’s front-row replacements consisted of prop Trevor Woodman and hooker Chris Fortey, but neither hooker Olivier Azam, a member of Gloucester’s starting line-up, nor Fortey, were deemed able to prop the scrum.

Loosehead prop Rodrigo Roncero went off at half-time, to be substituted – not replaced – by Woodman, then tighthead Andy Deacon departed nursing a knee injury.

Roncero returned to the fray instead of Deacon, but he subsequently suffered an ankle injury, sending hooker Fortey into the action.

Rule 12.3 of the RFU’s competitions regulations states: “If on the second occasion a front-row player requires to be replaced and his team cannot provide a replacement or other player capable of playing in the front-row, the referee will order uncontested scrums and the team will be deemed to have lost the match.”

But the competitions sub-committee, chaired by Jonathan Dance, decided there was “insufficient justification” to alter the result of the match.

Dance was joined in the decision-making process by Premier Rugby’s chief executive Howard Thomas and competitions sub-committee member Paul Astbury.

“The RFU competitions sub-committee met to consider and review the circumstances of the conclusion of the Powergen Cup semi-final contested between Leicester Tigers and Gloucester on March 1, 2003,” said the RFU, in a statement.

“The issues under consideration were a technical interpretation of the regulations and of the laws of the game.

“Upon strict interpretation, it was concluded that after lengthy deliberation that there was insufficient justification to alter the result of the game.

“The panel recommended that the competitions sub-committee and England Rugby Limited conduct an urgent review of regulations surrounding front-row replacements and uncontested scrums.

“In addition, the panel suggested the RFU urgently consider the implications of the regulations with a view to proposing amendments to the laws of the game to the International Rugby Board.

“Any interested party can appeal against the decision, but must do so within 48 hours.”

As things stand Gloucester will face Northampton at Twickenham in the Powergen Cup final on April 5.