D-day for Venter

Saracens director of rugby Brendan Venter will have his appeal against his 14-week suspension heard on Wednesday evening.

The Rugby Football Union have confirmed that Venter will appear before an independent panel that will be convened in London from 7pm.

Venter was suspended until August 24 after being found guilty of making provocative or inappropriate gestures towards spectators at Leicester earlier this month.

The RFU's original sanction has denied Venter access to Twickenham for Saturday's Guinness Premiership final against Leicester.

Saracens chief executive Edward Griffiths believes the club has strong grounds on which to fight the RFU's original decision.

"We lodged our formal papers requesting an appeal on Tuesday morning," said Griffiths.

"Three things are categorically accepted even by the original hearing.

"One is that Brendan didn't push anyone, secondly he didn't swear and thirdly he didn't make any obscene gestures at anyone.

"Taking all of that into account, we feel a 14-week ban that means he misses the showpiece of the year is disproportionate."