Gloucester may appeal Dawidiuk ban
GLOUCESTER are weighing up whether to appeal Darren Dawidiuk's six-week ban for his tip tackle on ex-Kingsholm lock Dave Attwood.
Hooker Dawidiuk will miss five of the Cherry and Whites' six remaining regular-season fixtures.
On Monday night the 25-year-old pleaded not guilty to committing a dangerous tackle on Attwood in Gloucester's 31-25 defeat at The Rec on Friday, March 1.
The former Cornish Pirate was found guilty of the tip tackle though, and banned for six weeks.
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Had he pleaded guilty he would have been hit with a four-week ban.
The RFU disciplinary panel revealed good conduct, remorse and previous exemplary record on the field cut the ban from nine to six weeks.
Dawidiuk will be available to play again on April 22 – in time for Gloucester's final regular-season Premiership clash at Exeter Chiefs on Saturday, May 4.
Cherry and Whites bosses clearly feel Dawidiuk should not have been sent off in the first place against Bath.
The hooker offered that argument in Monday night's hearing, but his submission was effectively dismissed by the disciplinary panel.
Gloucester know that if they were to appeal and lose, then there is precedent for the RFU increasing Dawidiuk's ban.
So while the Kingsholm bosses will be frustrated by the ruling, they also realise any appeal carries with it a hefty element of risk.
Lock Lua Lokotui also pleaded not guilty to the same charge as Dawidiuk at Monday's hearing at the Royal Courts of Justice.
Dawidiuk and Lokotui's cases were heard in conjunction.
But the 33-year-old Tongan second row's charge was dismissed out of hand, and he is free to play in Gloucester's London Welsh clash at Kingsholm on Saturday, March 23 (kick-off 3pm).
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by mattm74
Wednesday, March 13 2013, 8:15PM
“The number 3 shirt belongs to Harden. ND has selected him as his first choice.”
by walker1103
Wednesday, March 13 2013, 8:13PM
“Our scrum is always underpowered when Harden isn't in there propping.”
by SteveO82
Wednesday, March 13 2013, 8:11PM
“Rupert harden = Top man = Top tight head = Gloucester Rugby's first choice tight head.”
by george_aston
Wednesday, March 13 2013, 8:09PM
“Let's face it, Gloucester's scrum is never the same without Rupert Harden anchoring it. Nigel Davies knows that which is why he (and not the clueless multi-identitied troll Jonesy2013/akadau/flanker_6/etc.) selects Harden to start in the tough, critical games.”
by corsa-corsa
Wednesday, March 13 2013, 8:07PM
“Harden = Gloucester Rugby's first choice tight head. No doubt about it!”
by DanTheMan85
Wednesday, March 13 2013, 7:56PM
“We need to get Harden, our best and most talented tight head, back playing for Gloucester as a matter of urgency. We don't want to be going into the run in with a weakened scrum.”
by freshglaws
Wednesday, March 13 2013, 7:53PM
“Harden is the number 1 tight head at Gloucester Rugby. If the Gloucester hating multi-ID troll Jonesy2013 ever gets to a Gloucester Rugby game he could see that for himself but he never goes to any games.”
by Hinchcliffe34
Wednesday, March 13 2013, 7:50PM
“Harden proved, yet again, why he is the number one tight head at Gloucester and why the troll Jonesy2013 is clueless about any aspect of rugby union.”
by Don-Deakin
Wednesday, March 13 2013, 7:48PM
“When your tight head starts 13 out of 17 Premiership games, you just know that he is the best at Gloucester Rugby. That player is Rupert Harden!”
by Nick-Iewis
Wednesday, March 13 2013, 7:39PM
“Rupert Harden... Most starts at tight head.... Most starts of any front row player. That proves he is the top rated tight head at Gloucester.”