THE ERC certainly had their hands full this week in dealing with matters both on and off the field. The committee firstly confirmed the times and dates for the fifth and sixth rounds of the Heineken Cup competition and then focused on the report of the citing commissioners following the bevy of incidents that occurred during last weekend’s pool stage matches.
Prime time television dominates pool one while the logistical nightmare of a Friday night kick off is set to return to Limerick as the holders, Munster, will entertain their English visitors on Friday January 16 with an 8pm kick off against Sale with ASM Clermont Auvergne doing battle at the same time against Montauban in the pool 1 all French affair.
Leinster will travel to Twickenham on Saturday January 17 for an evening kick off against WASPS in the pool 2 decider.
Harlequins will stay firmly in the European spotlight when they travel to Ravenhill to face Ulster Rugby in round five of the Heineken Cup, a match also due for a Saturday kick off.
Round 6 of the competition will see the pool stages come to an end and the final slots for the knock-out stages will be finalised.
On Saturday, Montauban will host Munster at 16.35 local time while the other pool 1 game between Sale and Clermont will kick off at the same time in England.
Meanwhile, the citing committees have been named for the three incidents reported by the commissioners.
Jamie Cudmore, pictured below, will sit before the independent Disciplinary Committee this Thursday in London where it will be chaired by Christopher Quinlan (England) and will also comprise Peter Brown (Scotland) and John Glackin (Ireland). The group will consider if any further action is required following the sending-off of the Canadian born ASM Clermont Auvergne lock (No 4), in the Heineken Cup Round 4 Pool 1 match against Munster at Thomond Park on Saturday last. The player was sent off by English referee Chris White in the 18th minute for punching.
Harry Ellis, the Leicester Tigers replacement will have to travel to Dublin on Friday December 19 to answer questions relating to an incident of a dangerous tackle on Perpignan player Dan Carter (No 10). Professor Lorne Crerar (Scotland), George Spotswood (Ireland) and Pat Barriscale (Ireland), will look into that incident with the English scrum half.
