February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
Contepomi, who had been lured from English club Bristol to fill the key playmaker’s role for the Irish province, was due to play in the opening game of the competition against Biarritz of France at Lansdowne Road on Saturday when it emerged that he hadn’t been properly registered with the organizers.
Somehow, the correct release forms from England had not been passed on by Leinster to European Rugby Cup Ltd., and now because of an unacceptable oversight, Contepomi will be kicking his heels on the sideline as Leinster attempt to improve on last season’s achievement of reaching the semifinal.
All Leinster could come up with in the aftermath of such an appalling slip-up was that they had brought the mistake to the organizer’s attention.
“It wasn’t as if we were trying to pull the wool over anyone’s eyes,” said the Leinster chief executive, Mick Dawson. “The registration forms were just late. Technically, we could have said nothing and hoped that the mistake wouldn’t have been noticed, but that wasn’t really an option.”
Dawson admitted that he wasn’t confident there was any way now Contepomi could be re-registered.
With Ireland’s leading try scorer, Denis Hickie, already out for the season with an Achilles tendon injury, and with second row Leo Cullen also sidelined until April, the loss of the Argentine star is a massive blow to the province’s hopes of making an impact in the northern hemisphere’s premier club competition. Apart from Biarritz, Cardiff of Wales and Sale of England are in the same pool as Leinster.
There was also bad news for Munster as their newest signing, former New Zealand full-back Christian Cullen, will be out of action for three months following a shoulder operation. While Cullen should be fit by February at the latest, there seems little chance that he will play any part in the pool stages.
“We’ve got to take a long-term view with him,” said Munster coach Alan Gaffney. “He’s here for three years and we won’t risk him if there’s any danger of setting him back.” Munster, who are captained again by former Australia international Jim Williams, take on Gloucester of England, France’s Bourgoin and Italian champions Treviso in their pool. Meanwhile, Ulster, who won the European title in 1999, are up against Stade Francais, Leicester and Welsh side Gwent Dragons.