/ 14 October 1999

CHARVIS LOSES APPEAL, HUTCHINSON CITED

RUGBY World Cup authorities have taken a no-nonsense approach on foul play with Welshman Colin Charvis on Monday losing his appeal against a two-week suspension for punching Argentina’s Roberto Grau during the opening match of the tournament. At first, the 26-year-old accepted the ban but then decided to appeal in the hope of making himself available for his side’s final Pool D game against Samoa next Thursday. Meanwhile, Canadian flanker John Hutchinson has become the ninth player to be cited in World Cup 99. Hutchinson will appear before a disciplinary panel at Twickenham on Tuesday to answer a charge of punching during his side’s defeat by Fiji in Bordeaux on Saturday.