RFU man ejected after Scelzo incident

A Rugby Football Union employee was ejected from Wasps' 25-24 Heineken Cup victory over Clermont Auvergne for striking a player with a programme.

Former Wasps captain Alan Black appeared to aim a blow at Clermont's Argentina prop Martin Scelzo when a fight which erupted in the 58th minute spilt onto the sidelines. Black, who is employed as a leisure rugby manager by the RFU, was thrown out of Adams Park and Wasps chief executive Tony Copsey promised a full investigation into the incident.

Copsey said: "An individual was identified and expelled from the ground immediately. It was an unfortunate incident because something of this nature has never happened before."

He added: "It's an unfortunate moment for rugby that an incident like this should happen during a fantastic match, possibly one of the best ever Heineken Cup games.

"The club will consider its position and will fully investigate what happened. We won't over-react to the situation but want to look at it in its fullness. A season or lifetime ban might be forthcoming."

A spokesman for Heineken Cup organisers European Rugby Cup confirmed they are to investigate the second-half incident.

He said: "ERC will contact Wasps on Monday for a full report. Roger O'Connor is the officer in charge and he will take up the matter with the club."

The flashpoint saw Clermont back row Jamie Cudmore sin-binned for landing a flurry of punches on Wasps prop Tim Payne.

Cudmore could have been shown a red card by referee Alain Rolland and his offence will also attract the attention of ERC. Wasps captain Lawrence Dallaglio declared Black's attack with the programme needed to be put into context.

He said: "Let's get it into perspective. A guy throws six punches and gets yellow-carded whereas another guy hits someone with a programme. The incident has to be taken in the context of what happened previously - a guy had thrown a load of punches."