December 12, 2004

Euan breaks his silence over Murraygate

Posted by Assistant Editor on December 12, 2004 11:18 PM | No comments | Print | E-mail author

Euan has finally broken his silence over the Murraygate affair
Glasgow prop Euan Murray yesterday broke his silence on the legal battle with Murrayfield, insisting that the controversial episode had been an "inspiration".

In today's Scotland on Sunday, David Kelso reports that the verdict on Euan's appeal against a 12-week ban is likely to be delivered within the following 48 hours.

But Euan stressed: "In my mind, I have been able to keep the suspension issue separate from my concentration on playing rugby.

"In fact, the situation over the past three weeks has probably inspired me to raise my game because I every time I go onto the pitch I am wondering if it will be my last match for a long, long time."

The original ban on Euan was imposed after he was red carded for alleged stamping during last month's Celtic League encounter with the Scarlets at Hughenden.

His lawyers insisted the case was invalid because the original hearing was convened after the 48-hour deadline decreed in competition rules. But the union beaks decreed that because the league regulations were drawn up under English legal guidelines, they had the right to "prosecute" the player under their own procedure.

The ban was then shelved pending the result of Euan's appeal, which was heard earlier this week by a fresh panel including former Scotland skipper Peter Brown and ex-Edinburgh and Scotland A manager Rob Flockhart.

Ironically, Euan's defence is being funded by the SRU because they own the Glasgow pro-team. Euan added: "I can't afford to wait and worry about the outcome. I am totally focussed on helping Glasgow beat Llanelli and earn a confidence boost ahead of next weekend's crucial league match against Connacht. We might be out of Europe, but the trip to Wales is far from being meaningless in terms of regaining some pride and getting back on the winning trail."

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