Aviva Premiership
Bath hit with double citing
ESPN Staff
September 24, 2012
Michael Claassens is halted by Julian White, Bath Rugby v Leicester Tigers, Anglo-Welsh Cup, The Recreation Ground, Bath, London, March 9, 2012
Michael Claassens has been cited following Bath's loss to London Irish © Getty Images
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Players/Officials: Michael Claassens | Dan Hipkiss
Tournaments/Tours: Aviva Premiership
Teams: Bath Rugby | England

Bath have been hit with a double citing ahead of their match with Sale Sharks on Saturday.

The news follows their 29-22 loss to London Irish on Saturday with both Michael Claassens and Dan Hipkiss up in front of the disciplinary panel on Tuesday. Claassens has been cited for kicking Matthew Garvey while Hipkiss has been charged for an alleged 'tip tackle' on Jamie Gibson.

They will appear in front of a panel that consists of Judge Jeff Blackett, Nick Dark and Mike Curling. The news will do little to improve the mood around Bath with them currently trying to adjust to life without fly-half-come-inside centre Olly Barkley who slotted 17 points for Bath on Saturday.

Barkley will journey to Paris on Monday to link up with his new side Racing Metro and that could possibly leave them depleted in their goal-kicking department, but coach Gary Gold is adamant that they have enough options at their disposal.

"Stephen Donald is a World Cup-winning kicker, Sam Vesty is a kicker, Tom Heathcote is an outstanding talent and Jack Cuthbert can kick," Gold said. "So Olly is in that position at the moment and that is why he took the kicks, but we're lucky we have very good international players who have played at that level.

"He was just the one assigned to take the kicks today and when he is gone someone else will be assigned."

Later on Monday evening, Exeter lock James Hanks was charged with allegedly 'making contact with the eye or eye area' of Steve Borthwick. He too will find out his fate on Tuesday.

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