The Lions tour of New Zealand reached a new low today when lock Danny Grewcock received a two-month ban for biting an opponent. England forward Grewcock was cited by match commissioner Willem Venter for an alleged bite on New Zealand hooker Keven Mealamu during yesterday's 21-3 first Test defeat against the All Blacks.
Grewcock was suspended following a marathon disciplinary hearing that lasted all day in Christchurch and is now out of the tour as his poor disciplinary record once again surfaced. He was sent off playing for England against New Zealand in 1998, and he was also banned last summer after being cited for reckless use of the boot in a Test match against the All Blacks.
He has also encountered his fair share of problems playing for Bath, and Lions head coach Sir Clive Woodward now finds himself without the services of a leading player.
Woodward is now set to summon a replacement and it could be Welsh Grand Slam winner Brent Cockbain, although no decision is expected on that until tomorrow.
The International Rugby Board's judicial officer, Terry Willis, heard evidence from Mealamu and All Black winger Sitiveni Sivivatu plus Grewcock and Lions tour manager Bill Beaumont. Referee Joel Jutge, touch judge Stuart Dickinson and All Blacks doctor Graham Paterson submitted written reports while Willis also viewed a videotape and heard an audio tape of Mealamu's complaints to the match officials.
After examining all the evidence Willis accepted: “Mealamu's fingers inadvertently entered Grewcock's mouth at the breakdown but rather than removing the fingers in a more conventional way, Grewcock bit Mealamu's right ring finger, and accordingly he found that the player was guilty of biting.”
Willis heard defence for Grewcock that despite his previous disciplinary problems, he had never been cited for biting before. But Grewcock, under IRB regulation 17, was given a two-month suspension which expires on August 26.
Grewcock will miss most of Bath's pre-season build-up but he will be available to play in ther first game of the new Guinness Premiership campaign, against Bristol on September 2.
