Kevin Yates, a former England prop, is on the threshold of a remarkable rehabilitation to his rugby career. The 27-year-old is expected to receive a playing contract with Super 12 outfit the Wellington Hurricanes 22 months after he was charged with biting the ear of then London Scottish flanker Simon Fenn.

The incident happened in a Bath-London Scottish cup tie at the Recreation Ground on January 10th, 1998 and Australian Fenn required 28 stitches in a severe ear wound. Yates always maintained his innocence - the English RFU banned him for six months - but he decided to head for New Zealand to get away from the constant debate regarding the incident.

The NZRFU, not noted for their generosity towards foreigners, is expected to make an exception for Yates - the union control the purse strings for all the New Zealand Super 12 sides - and offer the English exile a contract.