Grewcock cops two weeks for striking
Scrum.com
November 10, 2009
Danny Grewcock of Bath has been banned until November 18
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- Bath lock Danny Grewcock has been banned for two weeks for striking Saracens' Neil de Kock during the 12-11 Premiership loss on October 31.
Former England forward Grewcock, who pleaded guilty to the charge, is suspended until November 18, meaning he will be available for the visit to Worcester two days later.
- Queensland Reds fullback Mark McLinden has been forced to retire due to a neck injury. The rugby league convert has called it a day on medical advice due to two bulging discs in his neck.
- Munster have confirmed the short-term signing of Cheetahs prop Wian du Preez as cover for the injured Marcus Horan and Dave Ryan. Du Preez has been a late call-up to the Springbok touring squad and will join his new team-mates ahead of the next round of Heineken Cup action.
- Assistant coach Paul Hull has stood down from his position with the England Saxons in order to concentrate on his role as Bristol head coach as they aim for promotion to the Guinness Premiership.
- Hawke's Bay rugby have made the surprise move of promoting Tom Coventry to a co-coaching role with Peter Russell, who previously held the job solo, with Coventry as assistant.
Hawke's Bay Rugby Union chief executive Mike Bishop said: "This has been instigated with the approval of both Peter and Tom (given) the need to give Tom a boost in profile within his Magpies role and the fact the Peter is now spending part of the year involved in Super Rugby (as Highlanders assistant coach).
"In some ways Tom has been the unsung hero of that success and hasn't necessarily received his just reward in the media for the part he has played in it."
- Leinster winger Shane Horgan will captain Ireland 'A' in Friday night's clash with Tonga at Ravenhill. Horgan, a veteran of 64 caps, is joined in the line-up by Munster scrum-half Peter Stringer and Northampton flanker Neil Best. A vacancy has been left at hooker as Ireland's senior squad wait for news on Jerry Flannery's calf injury.
Ireland 'A': G Duffy (Connacht); S Horgan (Leinster, capt), D Cave (Ulster), F McFadden (Leinster), A Trimble (Ulster); I Humphreys (Ulster), P Stringer (Munster); B Wilkinson (Connacht), A.N. Other, M Ross (Leinster), D Toner (Leinster), D Ryan (Munster), S O'Brien (Leinster), N Best (Northampton), C Henry (Ulster)
Replacements: D Fogarty (Munster), B Young (Ulster), D Tuohy (Ulster), K McLaughlin (Leinster), I Boss (Ulster), I Keatley (Connacht), J Murphy (Leicester)
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