England coach Clive Woodward is backing the suspended Bath prop Kevin Yates pending the disciplinary hearing into the ear-biting incident which left Australian Simon Fenn requiring 25 stitches.

Clive Woodward: Yates figured in his England plans

Yates, originally named among the 24-man squad, withdrew from England's first get-together of the year at Bisham Abbey following the announcement of his suspension, but telephoned Woodward to stress his innocence.

"He rang me and said: 'I need to tell you I didn't do it,'" said Woodward, who coached the 25-year-old at Bath before taking the England job.

"I know Kevin ... he's a good guy. He's not the sort of guy I'd expect to be involved in this sort of incident.

Yates: "Clive supports me"

"He's still in the squad until he's proven guilty, but any player in the England squad found guilty of biting will obviously be banned for a significant period of time."

Woodward expressed surprise that another England prop, Victor Ubogu, was originally cited by London Scottish.

Ubogu has been cleared of any wrong-doing but is taking legal advice after being cited then cleared of causing the horrific injury to the London Scottish flanker.

Victor Ubogu is furious that he was cited

Even though he has been cleared by both sides, Ubogu is furious about being named as the possible culprit in the first place.

"If they (London Scottish) had bothered to look at the video which they sent to Bath, it clearly shows that there's absolutely no way that I could have been involved," he told the BBC.

"Why I was cited in the first place baffles me. In the 20 years that I have been playing rugby I have never been sent off for any incident whatsoever.

Victor Uogu: "... strongly defamatory of my character." (0'36'')

"It is not in my character to be involved in the sort of incident that took place at the weekend and I feel that is strongly defamatory to my character."

Yates, rated one of the finest England prospects in years in his position, believes his attendance at Bisham Abbey would distract the other players because of anticipated massive media interest.

"Clive supports me, and I've been told that I will remain part of the England squad, pending the outcome of Bath's enquiry," said Yates, who is suspended on full pay.

Simon Fenn may need a skin graft

Bath have revealed that they do not have any evidence incriminating the other front-row members. The Argentine hooker Federico Mendez has also denied that he is responsible. "I didn't do it and I didn't see what happened," he said. "I was a good few inches away. All I know was that there was a lot of blood.

"I don't believe that any Bath player was involved. None of us would do anything like that."

Fenn: "Eager and frustrated" after his injury (2'29'')

In a statement, Bath said the club were "extremely annoyed" that Second Division Scottish had named three players when clearly only a maximum of one player could have been responsible.

Meanwhile, the England coach may yet be able to call on Bath's Jeremy Guscott for his side's opening Five Nations championship encounter with France in Paris next month.

Guscott, 32, has resumed contact training this week. He has not played a full game since the British Lions tour of South Africa six months ago when his last-minute drop goal earned the touring side an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series.

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