Union hitman gets away with a ban after bizarre attack

In the latter case, former Wasps captain Alan Black, employed as a leisure rugby manager by the union, was spared the sack despite being severely reprimanded for becoming involved in a brawl while watching his former club in action on Saturday.

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What a spectacle: Alan Black hits out with his programme

When a fight involving several Wasps and Clermont Auvergne players spilled over to the pitchside advertising boards, Black reacted by aiming several blows with his match programme at the visitors' Argentine prop Martin Scelzo.

Black was ejected from the ground but an 'unprecedented' tidal wave of public goodwill has convinced the RFU not to fire him.

The disciplinary officer at Twickenham, Judge Jeff Blackett, acknowledged that he had received a torrent of messages supporting a man who has been involved in rugby for 40 years.

Black's immediate apology to the game at large was also taken into account, as well as his willingness to accept any sanction that he received.

Yet, in the interests of protecting the image of the game, the unlikely offender has been banned from attending Guinness Premiership or England home matches for the remainder of the season. Following an interview with RFU chief executive Francis Baron, he was also given an 'appropriate employment sanction', but not a P45.

In light of the RFU's disciplinary statement, Wasps decided not to take any action of their own against Black. Shortly after the match, the club's chief executive, Tony Copsey, had pledged a full investigation with the possibility of a lifetime ban, a threat instantly condemned by Wasps head coach Shaun Edwards.

In the event, following an extensive inquest, the European champions have also pointed to Black's 'excellent character' and substantial contribution to the game. They have also concluded that their match-day security is satisfactory.

Meanwhile, Perpignan's England prop Perry Freshwater has predictably landed in hot water for elbowing London Irish flanker Kieran Roche in the face during Saturday's Heineken Cup Pool One clash at the Stade Aime Giral.

The 34-year-old's instinctive thrust of the arm had appalling consequences as Roche was led from the field with a horrifically damaged left eye and a scan revealed a fractured socket.

The 28-year-old England Sevens player spent much of Monday afternoon with an eye specialist in London, although he was relieved to report that his sight was gradually returning.

Freshwater was cited by match commissioner John West of Ireland on two counts — 'punching or striking' and 'acts contrary to good sportsmanship'.

Despite the severity of the injury, Freshwater is not a player with a history of skulduggery, as the Exiles' former England back Mike Catt admitted when he said: 'Perry is not a cheap-shot merchant.'

So that and the fact that the assault was not pre-meditated should count in his favour, although the prop cannot claim to have been significantly provoked. He will probably face a two or three-week ban.

As expected, Clermont flanker Jamie Cudmore has also been cited on the same charge as Freshwater for sparking the Adams Park brawl with a sustained assault on grounded Wasps prop Tim Payne. He is in danger of a ban of between four and eight weeks.

Former Leicester and England fly half Les Cusworth has been appointed as the new coach of Argentina as successor to Marcelo Loffreda. His reign started in style at the weekend as a Pumas team minus their World Cup contingent thrashed Chile 79-8 in the South American championship.