LAWRENCE Dallaglio has been suspended for a week by his club Wasps. The London outfit launched an investigation after their captain was cited for allegedly striking Leicester prop Julian White during last Saturday's EDF Energy Cup semi-final at the Millennium Stadium.
Dallaglio, who faces a Rugby Football Union disciplinary hearing in London next Tuesday as a result, will now miss Wasps' Guinness Premiership appointment with Leicester this weekend. The former England captain's club ban took effect two days ago.
Wasps say they are satisfied there was no intention or malice on Dallaglio's part, though his actions did infringe the relevant International Rugby Board rule.
The club also took into account what they describe as Dallaglio's "exemplary previous disciplinary history."
Dallaglio said: "I accept the sanction of a week's suspension from playing for my club. I acknowledge that my actions infringed the rules, although I wish to stress that they were unintentional and without any malice.
"I have extended my apologies to Julian White. I hope that I can now draw a line under this incident and enjoy playing out the rest of my final season."
Dallaglio, 35, will retire from all rugby next month following a glittering career that saw him help England win the 2003 World Cup.
He won 85 caps – only Jason Leonard is above him on England's all-time list – in addition to touring three times with the Lions.
Wasps are currently battling to reach the Guinness Premiership play-off positions in their quest for a fourth league title in six seasons.
They have seven games left, and a high Premiership finish is now their solitary route into next season's Heineken Cup.
• Former Wales Under-21 scrum-half Martin Roberts has signed for the Llanelli Scarlets after finding his path to the top blocked at the big-spending Ospreys.
Roberts has agreed a two-year with the Scarlets, who are losing Wales international Dwayne Peel to the Sale Sharks this summer.
Roberts made his Ospreys debut in 2005 but is now behind former New Zealand international Justin Marshall and Welsh Grand Slam-winner Mike Phillips in the pecking order. He will be competing with Sililo Martens for the scrum-half jersey after the Tongan swapped Sale for the Scarlets when Peel's move to the English club was confirmed.
The full article contains 391 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
