BBC SPORT | Rugby Union | European | Swansea face ERC fine

Gavin Henson is dismissed against Llanelli

Gavin Henson played in Montferrand after his red card

Crisis-club Swansea will be hauled before a European Rugby Cup disciplinary hearing this week after playing two suspended players against Montferrand.

Dean Thomas and Gavin Henson were sent off in the Celtic League game at Llanelli on 4 October, and under ERC rules they were consequently ineligible for the match in France.

ERC media manager Diarmaid Murphy said: "A player sent off in any competition cannot be selected in the Heineken Cup until their disciplinary case has been heard."

The players appeared before the WRU disciplinary panel last Friday, but they had started against Montferrand the previous Saturday.

Whites suffer Montferrand mauling

Dean Thomas (left)
Dean Thomas escaped further punishment for his sending off
The WRU banned Henson for three games for his part in the Battle of Stradey.

Thomas escaped further punishment as his red card was deemed sufficient.

Llanelli v Swansea report

Swansea could face a fine or the deduction of points for their breach of ERC regulations.

They look unlikely to qualify from their group in any case after their hammerings from Montferrand and Leinster, but a fine would hit the cash-strapped club hard.

The issue adds to a catalogue of woes suffered by the All Whites in recent weeks.

In addition to the on-field disasters, there has been a long-term injury to Kevin Morgan and the retirement of Garin Jenkins.

Garin calls it quits

Mark Taylor was stretchered off in the Leinster game with a recurrence of his knee ligament problems and he could be out of Wales' autumn internationals.

Swansea's financial backers have talked of a merger with local rivals Neath, a move supported by captain Scott Gibbs

Scrum V's report on the proposed merger


	Links to more European stories