Cleared again, Horwill ready for Lions
Source: AFP |
July 3, 2013, Wednesday
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Print Edition
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WALLABIES captain James Horwill was yesterday cleared of a stamping charge which would have ruled him out of this weekend's series decider against the British and Irish Lions.
The skipper will now take the field for the must-win third and final Test against the tourists in Sydney on Saturday after officials cleared him ? for a second time - of stamping on Lions player Alun Wyn Jones.
"I feel very vindicated by the way that it's gone," Horwill said.
Horwill was cited for allegedly stamping on the head of the lock in the first Test in Brisbane, which the tourists won 23-21.
He was initially cleared of the foul play charge and took the field for Australia's 16-15 win over the tourists in the second Test last Saturday, but the International Rugby Board challenged his acquittal with an independent appeal.
The Australian Rugby Union said yesterday that independent appeal officer Graeme Mew had dismissed that challenge, which was unprecedented as the IRB has never before intervened to overturn a not guilty verdict against a player.
After a two-and-a-half-hour video-conference hearing and extensive deliberation, Canadian arbitrator Mew upheld the original decision, saying there had been "no misapprehension of law or principle" proven and no evidence that the acquittal was unreasonable.
The Lions will be without their skipper, Sam Warburton, for the decider after the flanker was ruled out with a hamstring injury.
The skipper will now take the field for the must-win third and final Test against the tourists in Sydney on Saturday after officials cleared him ? for a second time - of stamping on Lions player Alun Wyn Jones.
"I feel very vindicated by the way that it's gone," Horwill said.
Horwill was cited for allegedly stamping on the head of the lock in the first Test in Brisbane, which the tourists won 23-21.
He was initially cleared of the foul play charge and took the field for Australia's 16-15 win over the tourists in the second Test last Saturday, but the International Rugby Board challenged his acquittal with an independent appeal.
The Australian Rugby Union said yesterday that independent appeal officer Graeme Mew had dismissed that challenge, which was unprecedented as the IRB has never before intervened to overturn a not guilty verdict against a player.
After a two-and-a-half-hour video-conference hearing and extensive deliberation, Canadian arbitrator Mew upheld the original decision, saying there had been "no misapprehension of law or principle" proven and no evidence that the acquittal was unreasonable.
The Lions will be without their skipper, Sam Warburton, for the decider after the flanker was ruled out with a hamstring injury.
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