15 Sep 2011

England consider appeal for Lawes

6:26 am on 15 September 2011

The England rugby camp is considering appealling the two-match suspension handed down to lock Courtney Lawes.

Lawes received the ban for "recklessly striking" Argentina's Mario Ledesma with his knee in Saturday night's Rugby World Cup match in Dunedin.

The 22-year-old will miss England's next two games, against Georgia on Sunday and Romania a week later.

Lawes, who pleaded not guilty, will be available for England's final group game against Scotland on 1 October.

Judicial officer Terry Willis says he applied some leniency because of Lawes' disciplinary record and "remorse".

Lawes was found guilty of striking Ledesma with his knee during the first half of England's World Cup opener against the Pumas, which they won 13-9.

The England coach Martin Johnson says an appeal is a possibility but he was waiting until he'd spoken to the contingent that went to hearing before making a decision.