Johnson wins appeal

Martin Johnson tonight won his appeal against a yellow card which could have landed him a season-ending ban.

The Leicester captain appealed against the caution handed out for fighting during Tigers’ Zurich Premiership defeat against Saracens eight days ago.

That protest was tonight upheld at a Rugby Football Union hearing in Coventry, leaving England’s World Cup skipper free to play in next Saturday’s top-of-the-table Premiership clash against Wasps.

Had his appeal failed, Johnson would have faced a disciplinary hearing tonight and the possibility of a suspension in the final weeks of his illustrious career.