ICE420
December 17th, 2007, 01:04 AM
The shocking face of rugby
http://img.thesun.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00405/Kieran_Roche_405466a.jpg
PERRY FRESHWATER could face a hefty ban for putting London Irish forward Kieran Roche in hospital.
Irish are demanding action after Roche was elbowed in the face in their 23-6 Heineken Cup defeat at Perpignan.
London director Brian Smith was enraged by the incident. He blasted: “These sort of things should not be happening on a rugby pitch.”
But Mike Catt has defended England team-mate Freshwater from accusations of blinding an opponent.
Flanker Roche, 28, suffered a fractured eye-socket and was temporarily blinded in his left eye.
But World Cup hero Catt, who left the Stade Aime Giral field with a back injury shortly after club-mate Roche, insisted: “I know Perry and he’s not a malicious player.” Match officials failed to act because they could not identify the culprit.
But the citing commissioner, armed with video evidence, is certain to take action and has until 5.30pm today to act. That could lead to England World Cup loosehead prop Freshwater, 34, missing most or all of the Six Nations Championship.
But Smith had no sympathy and added: “Roche was blind in his left eye on Saturday night.
“When Freshwater took Roche out, it cost us a crucial lineout forward. It was a huge loss for us.
“We had issues last week at home against Perpignan when one of our players had his head stamped on.
“We’ve written to organisers European Rugby Cup but so far have had no response.”
By the time Roche had a second hospital scan yesterday back in London, his vision was restored but blurred.
Catt added: “We certainly won’t leave Perpignan with our confidence knocked.
“At half-time the game was anybody’s and after two crucial moments — the yellow card to Delon Armitage and the loss of Roche — they finally got the better of us.”
The two sides were locked together at 6-6 well into the second half but Armitage’s yellow card for a high tackle was the turning point.
Perpignan scored through Christophe Manas and Nathan Hines but still trail the Exiles by one point in Pool 1.
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/rugby_union/article589111.ece
http://img.thesun.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00405/Kieran_Roche_405466a.jpg
PERRY FRESHWATER could face a hefty ban for putting London Irish forward Kieran Roche in hospital.
Irish are demanding action after Roche was elbowed in the face in their 23-6 Heineken Cup defeat at Perpignan.
London director Brian Smith was enraged by the incident. He blasted: “These sort of things should not be happening on a rugby pitch.”
But Mike Catt has defended England team-mate Freshwater from accusations of blinding an opponent.
Flanker Roche, 28, suffered a fractured eye-socket and was temporarily blinded in his left eye.
But World Cup hero Catt, who left the Stade Aime Giral field with a back injury shortly after club-mate Roche, insisted: “I know Perry and he’s not a malicious player.” Match officials failed to act because they could not identify the culprit.
But the citing commissioner, armed with video evidence, is certain to take action and has until 5.30pm today to act. That could lead to England World Cup loosehead prop Freshwater, 34, missing most or all of the Six Nations Championship.
But Smith had no sympathy and added: “Roche was blind in his left eye on Saturday night.
“When Freshwater took Roche out, it cost us a crucial lineout forward. It was a huge loss for us.
“We had issues last week at home against Perpignan when one of our players had his head stamped on.
“We’ve written to organisers European Rugby Cup but so far have had no response.”
By the time Roche had a second hospital scan yesterday back in London, his vision was restored but blurred.
Catt added: “We certainly won’t leave Perpignan with our confidence knocked.
“At half-time the game was anybody’s and after two crucial moments — the yellow card to Delon Armitage and the loss of Roche — they finally got the better of us.”
The two sides were locked together at 6-6 well into the second half but Armitage’s yellow card for a high tackle was the turning point.
Perpignan scored through Christophe Manas and Nathan Hines but still trail the Exiles by one point in Pool 1.
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/rugby_union/article589111.ece