Jennings to face citing hearing

Jennings is alleged to have made contact with the eye area of London Irish player Nick Kennedy

Leinster's Shane Jennings is to face a citing charge arising from Friday's Heineken Cup defeat by London Irish.

The Ireland flanker is alleged to have made contact with the eye area of London Irish player Nick Kennedy.

The charge was lodged by the citing commissioner for the match, Scottish official Richard McGhee.

The ERC Disciplinary Officer, Roger O'Connor will present the case against Jennings although a date for the hearing has yet to be arranged.

An ERC statement said that the independent Judicial Officer would be appointed as soon as practicable.

Jennings remains eligible to play in the Heineken Cup in advance of the hearing.

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Warriors line up Melbourne coach

Melbourne Storm assistant coach Michael Maguire has emerged as the frontrunner to replace Brian Noble at Wigan.

Noble's contract runs out next month and Warriors are expected to unveil his successor on Wednesday.

Melbourne head coach Craig Bellamy said they were resigned to losing Maguire who has, in turn, confirmed speaking to the Super League side.

"I think Michael will certainly go if he gets a visa," said Bellamy."He has done a great job for us."

"He is a very talented coach. He thinks he is ready for a head coach's job and I think he is, too.

"That is what he wants to do and he'll certainly get the blessing from our club, without a doubt."

Current Warriors reserves coach Shaun Wane, a former Wigan and Great Britain prop, is also in the running but is more likely to be appointed Maguire's assistant.

New Zealand national coach Stephen Kearney, another of Bellamy's assistants at Melbourne, revealed earlier this year that he turned down the chance to become Wigan's next coach.

Chairman Ian Lenagan confirmed Noble had not been offered a new deal after the season-ending 14-10 play-off defeat at St Helens.

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Community service for lying Bastareaud

The French Rugby Federation's (FFR) disciplinary committee ruled that Bastareaud's actions had harmed the wider interests of the sport.

The federation said the Stade Français centre would have to complete 18 activities related to amateur rugby before June 30, 2010, or face having the suspension enforced.

Bastareaud admitted making up a story about being attacked in the street in Wellington after France's 14-10 loss to the All Blacks on June 20.

Federation chairman Pierre Camou referred the affair to the committee after Prime Minister Francois Fillon ended up apologising to New Zealand for the player's claims.

After a furore erupted in New Zealand, Fillon told his counterpart John Key that Bastareaud's behaviour had been unacceptable.

Wellington police found video evidence that the player had entered the team hotel on the Sunday morning uninjured and had gone to his room 25 minutes later.

Bastareaud finally admitted he had not been assaulted but received a cut and bruised face after a drunken fall in his room.

The 21-year-old said he had invented the assault story to avoid being sent home by the French team management and upsetting his family.

The player went to hospital suffering psychological problems but has since resumed playing for Stade.

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Bastareaud gets community service for New Zealand rugby lies

PARIS — France centre Mathieu Bastareaud on Monday received a three-month suspension, commuted to community service, for having lied about an assault on himself while on tour in New Zealand.

The French Rugby Federation's (FFR) disciplinary committee ruled that Bastareaud's actions had harmed the wider interests of the sport.

The federation said the Stade Francais back would have to complete 18 activities related to amateur rugby between October 1 and June 30, 2010, or face having the suspension enforced.

Bastareaud, 21, admitted making up a story about being attacked in the street in Wellington following France's 14-10 defeat by the All Blacks on June 20.

Federation chairman Pierre Camou referred the affair to the committee after Prime Minister Francois Fillon ended up apologising to New Zealand for the player's claims.

After a furore erupted in New Zealand, Fillon told his counterpart John Key that Bastareaud's behaviour had been unacceptable.

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