No end yet to Northampton's Dublin nightmare as three players cited

Northampton’s Leinster nightmare isn’t yet over as three of their players have been cited and face suspensions following last Saturday’s humiliation in Dublin. 

The Gallagher Premiership leaders had no answers to the Irish side’s Heineken Champions Cup onslaught, losing 21-50 seven days after they had been taken to the cleaners 16-43 by the same opposition at Franklin’s Gardens. 

Cumulative totals further put the lopsided head-to-head into stark contrast – Match points: Leinster 10 Northampton 0, Points scored: Leinster 93 Northampton 37, Tries scored: Leinster 14 Northampton 4.

The only count where the Saints emerged on top was on the citing list stemming from the round four meeting at Aviva Stadium. 

EPCR have summoned Lewis Bean, Andy Symons and Matt Procter to independent disciplinary hearings in London on Wednesday to answer cases surrounding alleged foul tackles in contravention of Law 9.13.

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Bean is alleged to have committed an act of foul play when tackling Leinster prop Cian Healy in a dangerous manner in the 13th minute, Symons is cited for dangerously tackling hooker James Tracy in the 15th minute, and Proctor’s foul play came when tackling replacement fly-half Ciaran Frawley in the 72nd minute.

If the citings are upheld, Saints would likely lose each player for a minumum three weeks given the current trend in the level of suspensions being handed out. 

Revamp on the cards for the Heineken Champions Cup which has been using the same 20-team format since 2014/15https://t.co/xQMekO9H0e

— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) December 17, 2019

Chair Roger Morris (Wales), Jamie Corsi (Wales) and John Doubleday (England) will preside over the Bean and Symons hearings, with chair Kathrine Mackie (Scotland), Andrea Caranci (Italy) and Morris (Wales) pencilled in for the Procter case. 

It is a busy week for EPCR’s disciplinary panels as they are also holding hearings for the red-carded Matt Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors), Ethan Waller (Worcester Warriors) and Davide Zanetti (Rugby Calvisano), as well as citing complaints against Mitch Lees (Brive) and Geoffrey Moise (Pau).  

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