LNR reduces Audebert's ban

The Ligue Nationale de Rugby (LNR) is on a collision course with its European counterpart after opting to reduced a suspension handed down to Alexandre Audebert.

The governing body of France's Top 14 competition had declared that it would not uphold the Clermont flank's eight-week ban and has now made good on its promise, 'officially' reducing the sentence to just 30 days.

Audebert was found guilty of a stamping incident in last month's Heineken Cup encounter against Munster, as was Ireland hooker Jerry Flannery.

European Rugby Cup (ERC) officials handed both players eight-week bans and both players subsequently appealed.

But the ERC's independent appeals committee opted to uphold Audebert's suspension whilst halving Flannery's ban to four weeks.

The disparity incensed the LNR, with the body's vice-president, Patrick Wolff, dismissing the verdict as "a denial of justice".

Audebert's new sentence is in line with Flannery's: the Frenchman is eligible for selection from 23 February whilst the Ireland hooker is free to play as of 21 February.

The LNR's decision to reject the ERC's ruling is likely to have serious repercussions.

The French have long pleaded that suspensions should apply only to the competition in which the offence took place.

The ERC has yet to respond.