Byrne appeals ERC suspension

Lee Byrne has confirmed he will lodge an appeal to Heineken Cup organisers ERC against the sentence he received after pleading guilty to Misconduct during an independent Disciplinary Committee hearing on Friday.

 Byrne was banned from rugby for a period of two weeks - ruling him out of Wales' RBS 6 Nations opening clash with England at Twickenham on Saturday, 6 February - after Misconduct complaints were brought relating to the round 6 Heineken Cup match between Ospreys and Leicester Tigers.

The player has been taking legal advice based at national team headquarters, the WRU National Centre of Excellence at the Vale Resort in Hensol, and will lodge the necessary documents for the appeal no later than next Monday.

The Wales team announcement ahead of the clash with England was also re-scheduled as Head coach Warren Gatland awaits the outcome of the appeal.

A new time and date for the team announcement and further details of the appeal will be issued when appropriate, but no further comment will be made on the subject until the hearing has taken place.