Herring cleared for semifinal

Rob Herring has been cleared to play for Ulster against Glasgow Warriors in the Pro12 semifinal at Scotstoun on Friday.

The Ulster hooker, Herring, appeared before a Pro12 disciplinary committee, having been cited for allegedly stamping on an opponent's head – Law 10.4(b) – in the Pro12 match against the Warriors at Scotstoun last Saturday.

The disciplinary committee – chaired by Roger Morris, along with Nicholas D Jones and Ray Wilton (all from Wales) – viewed the footage of the incident, reviewed the other evidence and listened to representations by and on behalf of Herring.

They did not uphold the citing complaint.

The disciplinary committee concluded that the player had been held in a ruck by two opponents, after the ball had left the ruck, and that his actions were the result of him trying to release himself from their grip.

They ruled that he had not committed an act of foul play.

The disciplinary committee accordingly imposed no sanction on the player, who is free to resume playing immediately.