It is understood that Brennan's course of action may have been prompted by the fact that sporting justice could directly influence putative criminal and civil proceedings further down the line.

A date for the hearing of Brennan's appeal and the actual composition of the Independent Appeal Committee will be confirmed as soon as possible.



Not only will Brennan, who is domiciled in France, appeal against his ban from playing in the European Cup but he will also appeal against a suspension from participating in any tournament organised by the ERC and the hefty fine imposed on him after he was found guilty of punching Ulster supporter Patrick Bamford in a Heineken Cup clash in Toulouse.

Brennan announced his immediate retirement from the game just days before the hearing in London on March 16.

The independent disciplinary committee found Brennan guilty of entering one of the seating areas in Stade Ernest Wallon on January 21 and repeatedly striking Bamford.

Brennan claimed he was provoked, which has been denied by the Bamford.

Brennan was fined £17,000 and ordered to pay £3,500 compensation to Bamford and the costs of convening the hearing.

Last month the French Rugby Federation banned Brennan until the disciplinary hearing was complete.

The player, who always planned to retire at the end of the current French Championship, then announced his retirement because of the ERC's refusal to adjourn the hearing until after any pending criminal proceedings.

Brennan even took his appeal for an adjournment to the Irish High Court, fearing the outcome of the disciplinary hearing would affect his right to silence in the French court.

After the hearing, Bamford said he was satisfied with the result, but a solicitor acting for the Ulster fan stressed that he would be pursuing defamation actions against a number of media organisations.

Meanwhile, Scottish Rugby Union chief executive Gordon McKie insists the demise of Border Reivers at the end of the season will not be the first nail in the coffin for the professional game in Scotland. McKie claimed the move, announced yesterday, should free up enough cash to allow Glasgow Warriors to compete on an even footing with European giants such as Munster, Leicester Tigers and Toulouse.

Scotland will now have only two professional teams. Edinburgh Rugby was franchised out to a private consortium last summer, while the Warriors remain under central control.

McKie said: "There are many reasons for our decision, but the positive aspect is that Glasgow Warriors will receive increased funding to enable it to strengthen and increase the size of their squad, and most importantly invest in long overdue playing and training facilities. By expressing a commitment to long-term professional rugby in Scotland we can give Glasgow the ability to compete at the highest level."



McKie explained that between 10 and 15 Borders players will be out of contract at the end of the season and released; while five to 10 players who are still on existing contracts will be asked to move to the Warriors.