MALCOLM O'KELLY has been cited for an alleged stamping arising out of an incident in Leinster's Magners League win away to the Ospreys on Friday evening and his hearing will take place in Ravenhill at 4.30pm today, reports Gerry Thornley.
It is an unfortunate and surprising development for O’Kelly, who was suspended for two weeks for stamping on Phil Vickery in a Leinster-Wasps Heineken Cup match in January, but in this instance, in the 68th minute, the Irish lock appeared to be stepping backwards and scarcely raised his boot in making contact with the head of David Bishop. He has since had to have surgery on his left ear but it looked, for all the world, like an unfortunate accident.
SCOTLAND HAVEreceived a boost ahead of Saturday's match against Ireland in Murrayfield after Jim Hamilton, Nathan Hines and Rory Lamont returned to training. Hines and Lamont have not featured in the championship and Hamilton missed the victory over Italy last time out after suffering a shoulder injury early in the defeat by France.
Perpignan lock Hines was in danger of missing the campaign after undergoing knee surgery on February 10th, while Lamont has not played since damaging ankle ligaments while playing for Sale on December 5th. Defence coach Graham Steadman is optimistic lock Hamilton will be fit to face Ireland.
DWAYNE PEEL'Sfrustrating international season looks set to take a turn for the worse.
It appears a hamstring injury will deny Sale scrumhalf Peel the chance of his first Test match start since last season’s Six Nations.
Mike Phillips is on standby to wear the Wales number nine shirt against Italy in Rome on Saturday.
