By Mally (02/05/03)
May 2 2003

Much to the relief of Newcastle Falcons' fans Stuart Grimes is to appeal against the 10 week ban he recieved after being red carded during the Gloucester away match on April 12th. The ban was to run from now until June 14th and from August 30th to September 24th, meaning that Grimes would not only miss Scotland's two-Test tour of South Africa next month and World Cup warm up matches, but more importantly (from a Falcons' point of view) Grimes would miss the rest of the domestic season.

By appealing Grimes is available to play until the hearing on May 6th and so will be available for the all important match against Saracens this weekend.

The panel, Robert Horner (chairman), Peter Budge and Jeff Probyn, banned Grimes for headbutting Gloucester's Adam Eustace, or as the RFU report phrased it "striking an opponent with the head".

The panel also banned Gloucester's Chris Fortey, for stamping on Jamie Noon's head during the same melee. Fortey's 12 week ban, will run from now until the end of the current season, from June 7th to July 5th this summer and from the start of next season until September 24th. Like Grimes' ban the suspension is frozen during the close season.

This was Grimes first red card, but the RFU panel decided that offence warranted a lengthy suspension.

The appeal will take place at the Leeds Brighouse Holiday Inn on Tuesday, May 6th, if the appeal is turned down Grimes will not be available for Newcastle Falcons' final game of the season against Bath.

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