Former Bath trio ponder appeals

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The former Bath players are considering whether to appeal against the suspension, imposed on Monday by a Rugby Football Union disciplinary panel after a four-day hearing in London. The RFU dropped charges of cocaine use but found all three players had failed on two occasions to submit for a drugs test as Bath investigated allegations relating to an end-of-season celebration in London.

Solicitor Richard Mallett, acting on behalf of the trio, said: "All three players are absolutely devastated by the result and that they have now been suspended from playing the game they love. We would like to emphasise that the charges against the players that they had actually taken cocaine were dismissed at the beginning of the proceedings. They are, of course, considering their position."

The suspension - reduced from 15 months because of the players' good character and their reliance on what the panel perceived to be poor legal advice - has been back-dated to start on June 1, the day all three terminated their contracts with Bath.

Lipman, Crockett and Higgins have 14 days to lodge an appeal.

Monday's verdict takes to five the number of players from Bath to have been suspended for drug-related offences this year.

Matt Stevens was banned for two years in March for testing positive for cocaine and last month Justin Harrison admitted three charges, including taking the Class A drug.