Springbok World Cup hero Butch James could have his season brought to a premature end at an RFU disciplinary committee meeting on Tuesday after being cited for an alleged stamp.
The Bath outside half was called to task by the RFU’s independent citing commissioner, the former Scottish back row forward Budge Pountney, after he studied evidence from the game between Bath and London Wasps at The Recreation Ground on 1 April.
The alleged stamp on Wasps’ international centre Riki Flutey could leave him with a ban of anything up to nine weeks if found guilty. James played for his club in last weekend’s home defeat by Harlequins and is a key man in their Heineken Cup hopes this weekend.
Bath travel to the Walkers Stadium to face Leicester Tigers in the quarter-finals hoping to repeat their shock victory over the Tigers at the same stage, and same venue, in 2006.
Any lengthy ban would also wreck any lingering hopes James has of receiving a late call from South African coach Peter de Villiers to help the world champion Springboks battle the British & Irish Lions this summer.
James is set to receive an invitation to play for the Namibian Invitation XV that will play a South African Squad XV in the build-up to the Castle Series. That game is due to be played at the end of May.
Meanwhile, Leicester, England and Lions prop Julian White will learn of his fate shortly before James when he faces the music for flattening Sale Sharks prop Andrew Sheridan with a punch in last weekend’s Guinness Premiership victory at Welford Road.
A Lion in 2005, White’s hopes of making a second tour will virtually disappear if he receives a lengthy ban.
