Leinster star O'Kelly on trial for stamping on Vickery

by PETER JACKSON
Updated: 16:56 EST, 19 January 2009

The long arm of the rugby law collared Malcolm O'Kelly yesterday, some 48 hours after the Irish Lion escaped being sent off for stamping on Phil Vickery's head at Twickenham.

By putting Leinster's 91-Test lock before a European Rugby Cup disciplinary tribunal in Dublin on Thursday, the tournament organisers showed their concern at French referee Christophe Berdos letting off O'Kelly with 10 minutes in the sin-bin.

Stamping carries a recommended minimum suspension of two weeks, rising to nine or more. The action puts O'Kelly in danger of being banned from his province's final pool match against Edinburgh in Dublin on Saturday.

Wasps have a vested interest in the verdict. They must beat Castres in France on Saturday and hope Leinster lose if they are to win the pool and automatic entry into the last eight. Should the two teams finish level on points, Leinster will go through with a better head-to-head record.

Cardiff's Tom James, sent off for butting Gloucester hooker Olivier Azam on Sunday, has been summoned before the same tribunal. The Wales wing faces a ban of at least four weeks.