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Lions 2013

Cian Healy cleared of biting but flying home injured from Lions Tour

The Judicial Officer said there was no conclusive video evidence of the incident of alleged biting.

Updated 11:20

BRITISH AND IRISH Lions prop Cian Healy has been cleared of biting but an ankle injury means his tour is over.

Healy was stretchered from the pitch after 35 minutes of the Lions’ 69-17 win over Western Force when he twisted his ankle when grappled to the ground by Angus Cottrell. A Lions statement, released at 11;15am Irish time, confirmed that the prop had suffered ‘extensive ankle ligament damage’ and would be flying back to Ireland.

Lions head coach Warren Gatland said, “Firstly, our thoughts are with Cian. It has been a day of mixed emotions for him after being quite rightly being cleared of foul play but then the scan revealing the extent of the damage to his ankle. He has made a big contribution on and off the field in the last two weeks and we wish him well in his recovery.”

England’s Alex Corbisiero had been already called up as cover for Healy as the Lions focused on fighting the biting allegations against their player.

The Leinster player had been accused of biting the finger of Western Force scrum half Brett Sheehan in the 17th minute of Wednesday’s match in Perth, an act described as being “contrary to good sportsmanship”. However, he was cleared of wrongdoing following a citing hearing in Brisbane.

After the two-and-a-half-hour hearing, Judicial Officer Nigel Hampton said he could not prove there was a “deliberate bite” and therefore would not uphold the complaint.

In his findings, he explained, “There is no conclusive video evidence of the incident and post-match it was not possible to distinguish any discernible bite marks outside of the ‘regular’ marks usually found following a rugby match.”

Hampton said that during the tackle Sheehan’s arm may have come in contact with Healy’s mouth and due to the pressure of the tackle, it was likely that there was unavoidable contact between Healy’s teeth and his opponent’s arm.

Healy’s Facebook message.

Although the decision means Healy could be picked for all future games, the ligament damage sustained to his ankle ruled him out of the rest of the tour. England’s Alex Corbisiero has already been called up as cover and is en-route Australia.

Gethin Jenkins has also been hit by injury. A calf injury means he will miss Saturday’s warm-up against Queensland Reds, with Mako Vunipola coming into the starting XV. Scotland’s Ryan Grant has been called up as cover for Jenkins.

-Additional reporting by AFP

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