10 Oct 2009

Banned hooker appeals suspension

12:32 pm on 10 October 2009

Gloucester's French hooker Olivier Azam has appealed against a 12-week ban imposed by the Rugby Football Union (RFU) for kicking Saracens' England captain Steve Borthwick during a Premiership match last month.

Borthwick had five stitches in an eye wound after being caught by a boot at the foot of a ruck in the game on September the 27th and there were fears the lock might have damaged his socket but a scan revealed extreme swelling and tissue damage.

The former France international Azam pleaded guilty before an RFU Disciplinary Panel having only just returned from a nine-week eye-gouging ban.

Azam's appeal will be heard this week.