Rugby news in brief: Alain Rolland to referee Calcutta Cup match

Published on 12/12/2012 00:00

IRISH referee Alain Rolland will take charge of Scotland’s RBS Six Nations opener against England at Twickenham on Saturday 2 February.

The Six Nations appointments, announced yesterday by the International Rugby Board, include two games for leading English official Wayne Barnes, who will control Scotland v Ireland at Murrayfield and Ireland’s appointment with Italy in Rome.

France’s Jerome Garces has been handed the Ireland v England clash on 10 February, with South African Craig Joubert controlling England against France, Ireland’s George Clancy being awarded England v Italy and Australia’s Steve Walsh in charge for the Millennium Stadium finale against Wales on 16 March.

Two of Wales’ five games – against Ireland and Italy – will be officiated by Frenchman Romain Poite.

Hartley hearing over alleged strike

NORTHAMPTON captain Dylan Hartley will face a disciplinary hearing in Dublin tomorrow. The England and Saints hooker was cited for allegedly striking opposite number Rory Best with his arm during Northampton’s Heineken Cup pool defeat by Ulster last Friday night. Hartley could face a ban of anything between two weeks for a low end entry point, to a maximum 52-week suspension.

Cardiff Blues’ Wales international scrum-half Lloyd Williams has also been summoned to Dublin after he was sent off for an alleged dangerous tackle against Montpellier two days ago. And Newport Gwent Dragons flanker Jevon Groves faces a hearing following his red card for an alleged dangerous tackle during the Dragons’ Amlin Challenge Cup victory over Italian side Mogliano last weekend.

Beattie wins club volunteer accolade

A RUGBY coach from Dundee has been awarded the RBS Club Volunteer of the Month award for November, for his undivided commitment to the growth of the women’s game at his club.

Ryan Beattie, 27, who coaches, manages, cooks for and markets women’s rugby at Morgan Academy FP was stunned to find he had won the prestigious accolade. He said: “I was shocked when I heard I had won the award, I didn’t even know I had been nominated, but I knew something was going on as the girls were asking me lots of suspicious questions a few weeks ago. I was fortunate to be at the Club Awards dinner last year because one of our players won RBS National Women’s Player of the Season [Alana Davidson], and when I heard all the stories about the volunteers I thought I’d never deserve to win such an award.”