Perpignan Pair Suspended.

Perpignan captain Bernard Goutta and his club colleague, Michel Konieckiewicz have both been suspended by an ERC disciplinary committee after the pair were among five players cited by
London Wasps following incidents during the final pool 6 Heineken Cup game at Stade Aime
Giral on
February 1st.

Flanker Goutta was suspended for four weeks and hooker
Konieckiewicz for six weeks, both suspensions effective from the day of the hearing (Wed. 25th Feb).

Wasps originally brought 12 citing complaints against five players but withdrew six of those complaints last week.

A statement issued by ERC said:
An independent Disciplinary Committee met today in Dublin (25th February, 2004) to consider the citing complaints by London Wasps against players of
USA Perpignan arising out of the meeting of the two teams in the sixth and final round of Pool matches in the Heineken Cup at Stade Aime Giral on 1st February, 2004.

Originally, London Wasps raised 12 complaints against five
players with the tournament organisers, ERC. Last week they withdrew six of
their complaints. The remaining six citings were brought against three
players.

The independent Disciplinary Committee, comprising Rod McKenzie (SRU –
chairman), Phil Orr (IRFU) and Terry Vaux (WRU), made the following
decisions:

1. The one citing complaint against Rimas Alvarez Kairelis for alleged foul
> play was dismissed.
> 2. Of the two citings brought against Bernard Goutta, the Perpignan
captain, one was dismissed and one upheld. In the complaint which was
upheld, the Committee found the player had struck the Wasps No 6, Joe
Worsley, with his fist and therefore imposed a suspension of 4 weeks with
effect from today (Wed).
3. In relation to Michel Konieckiewicz, all three citings against the > player were upheld.

In the case of the first citing, which involved the player
standing on the foot of the Wasps No 9, Rob Howley,
the player was reprimanded.

In the case of the second and third citings, which involved
punches to the head of the Wasps No 2 Trevor
Leota and the Wasps No 16 Ben Gotting respectively,
periods of suspension of 6 weeks were imposed in
each case. The suspensions will run concurrently and
are effective from today (Wed 25th Feb).

Michel Konieckiewicz was ordered to pay one half of the total costs of
London Wasps in connection with the citing proceedings and one half of thecosts of ERC. Bernard Goutta was ordered to pay one sixth of the costs of
ERC. London Wasps were ordered to pay the remaining one third.

All parties have the right of appeal against any decision.