Delve ban reduced following appeal
Gloucester are able to include Delve for the opening Heineken Cup fixture
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By Sarah Garrod. |  |
Tuesday, 29, Sep 2009 02:23
By Michael Younger.
Glouceser number eight Gareth Delve will now be available for the start of the Heineken Cup after having a three-game ban reduced by one match.
Following an appeal on Monday afternoon, it has been announced that the RFU have downgraded Delve's charge of striking London Irish's George Stowers from a mid-range to a lower-end offence.
Delve was handed the original three-match ban following the Guinness Premiership match at the Madejski Stadium on September 13th, which Irish comfortably won 40-10.
In the 79th minute, Stowers tackled Gloucester's Dave Lewis dangerously with a stiff arm, which sparked a mass brawl in which Delve ran across the pitch to confront Stowers before pushing him over. Both players then grappled on the floor.
Stowers and Delve were temporarily suspended before Stowers was subsequently cited on two counts for a dangerous tackle and for striking the Delve. The resulting three-week ban comprised of two for the dangerous tackle and one for the strike, with the suspensions running consecutively.
Delve sat out the defeat at Saracens on Sunday and will miss next Sunday's Guinness Premiership fixture at Leeds Carnegie, before being available again for selection ahead of the Heineken Cup opener at home to Newport Gwent Dragons a week on Friday.