Vickery ban adds to England woes - Sport in brief - Evening Standard
       

Vickery ban adds to England woes

England's World Cup captain Phil Vickery has been banned for two matches, dealing the Web-Ellis Trophy holders another damaging blow.

Wasps prop Vickery was cited for kicking USA centre Paul Emerick during last Saturday's Pool A game in Lens.

Vickery was summoned to appear before World Cup judicial officer Professor Lorne Crerar in Paris today and, after a three-hour hearing, the suspension was imposed.

It means Vickery will miss England's crunch clash with South Africa at the Stade de France on Friday night plus the appointment with Samoa in Nantes on Saturday week.

The England camp have 48 hours to decide on a possible appeal, but at this stage it looks as though Vickery will be replaced in the starting line-up by Bath's Matt Stevens.

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