Johnson appeal to be heard on Thursday
Tuesday, 2 January 2001 19:55England captain Martin Johnson will have an appeal against his 35-day ban for foul play heard by a three-man panel on Thursday. The 30-year-old Leicester second-row will appear before the panel, which will be chaired by John Spencer, John Loughton and Geoff Payne.
Johnson was cited after the Tetley's Bitter Cup quarter-final against Saracens and his ban, imposed by the Rugby Football Union, was due to end the day before England's Six Nations opener against Wales in Cardiff on February 3. But Johnson has decided to go for a reduction in the suspension even though he knows he runs the risk of it being extended.
Pending the appeal, Johnson will miss Leicester's next two Zurich Premiership matches, the Tetley's Bitter Cup semi-final with Harlequins on January 6 and his club's remaining Heineken European Cup group games. Saracens cited the Leicester lock for alleged use of the knee on their Australian fly-half Duncan McRae during the cup clash.
McRae was left with rib damage and is unlikely to play again before the end of January, while Saracens also lodged a protest against Johnson for an off-the-ball incident with their prop Julian White.
Filed by Shane Murray
