Steff Evans has red card overturned and cleared to play for Scarlets in PRO12 final
Wednesday 24 May 2017 13:18, UK
Scarlets wing Steff Evans has been cleared to play in Saturday's Guinness PRO12 final against Munster.
Evans was sent off for a dangerous tackle on Leinster centre Garry Ringrose during the PRO12 semi-final in Dublin last Friday.
But a disciplinary panel that convened in Edinburgh on Wednesday ruled by a majority decision that the red card issued to Evans should be rescinded.
It means the uncapped 22-year-old is also available for Wales' Tests against Tonga and Samoa next month after being selected in the touring squad.
A statement released on behalf of the PRO12 read: "The disciplinary panel - Roddy Dunlop QC (chair), Roddy MacLeod and Iain Leslie (all Scotland) - decided, by a majority, that the player undertook a lawful tackle in a manner that was consistent with the laws of the game.
"The tackle only became dangerous as a result of the intervention of Scarlets No 3 (Samson Lee)."
The panel referenced itself to the decision of an appeal committee made during the 2015 World Cup when three-week bans imposed on Scotland forwards Ross Ford and Richie Gray for a joint-tackle against Samoa were overturned on appeal.
The Scarlets, despite losing Evans just before half-time, produced a memorable performance to see off Leinster 27-15 and a book an Aviva Stadium return trip this weekend.
