Bath have put back their disciplinary hearing for prop Kevin Yates from January 20 until February 3.

The club have made the move on legal advice from Michael Burton QC, appointed by Bath to chair the hearing.

England prop Yates remains suspended on full pay. following the alleged ear-biting incident that left London Scottish flanker Simon Fenn requiring 28 stitches when the rivals met in a cup match.

Scottish originally cited Yates together with his front-row colleagues Federico Mendez and Victor Ubogu, although Scottish protests against Mendez and Ubogu have since been dropped.

Bath director Thomas Sheppard said: "We are obviously disappointed that the hearing has been postponed. We are trying to resolve this issue as soon as possible.

"However, the Bath club is grateful to Michael Burton, who totally supports our request that all evidence must be provided for a fair hearing to take place."

The Rugby Football Union have also pledged to investigate, although it is unlikely that they would make any deliberations until Bath have fully debated the matter.
 

Back to top | BBC News Home | BBC Homepage	©