Evans to face foot-stomping music

Wales lock Ian Evans could miss at least part of the Six Nations after he was sent off for alleged stamping whilst playing for the Ospreys on Friday.

Evans was dismissed by French referee Romain Poite during the Ospreys' 36-3 European Cup defeat to Leinster – after television replays appeared to show Leinster forward Mike McCarthy being stamped on.

The 29-year-old is now set to face a disciplinary hearing next week, with the range of suspensions for stamping starting at a fortnight and moving up to nine weeks or more for a top-end offence.

Wales kick off their Six Nations campaign at home against Italy on February 1, before tackling Ireland in Dublin seven days later.

Wales coach Warren Gatland, whose 32-man Six Nations squad assembles on Monday, will also require early fitness updates on forwards Richard Hibbard and Ryan Jones following their injury-enforced departures during the same game on Friday.

Evans, who will join European Cup holders Toulon next season, has won 32 caps and was one of four locks named in Gatland's squad alongside Jones, Luke Charteris and Andrew Coombs.

Reflecting on Evans' first-half red card after the game, Ospreys backs coach Gruff Rees said: "It was a big moment, but I'm not sure about it to be honest, like a lot of observers, I think.

"Perhaps it was a bit reckless, but there were a lot of replays needed to make a decision, which suggests it wasn't that clear and obvious.

"It took five or six times in slow-mo to isolate the incident. I don't know if that's clear and obvious from a red card point of view, and it changes the game.

"You have to be absolutely certain with a red card, and that there were so many replays and there are still so many differing opinions on it suggests that the clips may not have been totally conclusive.

"I think when it does get slowed down to the nth degree, something worse can be made of it."

Source: PA