Harlequins fury over hooker decision

Harlequins today slammed as "ridiculous" a decision by European Shield organisers to reject a bid to play 19-year-old Johnny Rodham in the semi-final clash with Newcastle at Leeds on Sunday.

Quins have three hookers out through injury or suspension and asked organisers to let them register Rodham to ensure they had a specialist hooker for the semi-final.

However, European Rugby Cup officials in Dublin today rejected the written appeal opening themselves to accusations of turning the Shield into a farce. Even opponents Newcastle supported the registration of Rodham and now Quins must hope that they can patch up one of their injured hookers or else face a match where there uncontested scrums.

Mike Stott, Quins' team manager, fumed: "It is patently ridiculous to refuse this appeal when all we are asking is for a hooker who is a member of our Under 21 team to play and ensure we have a specialist for that position in the team.

"It's not as if we are trying to sign another international hooker of the class of Keith Wood, who we have lost with a rib injury. Even Newcastle's Rob Andrew agrees that the sensible thing is to let us register another hooker.

"It's turning the tournament into a farce and we have very limited options. One of them is to try and patch up Tani Fuga, who separated two bones in his ankle, and hope that by Sunday he can be put into some kind of shape to play. The only other option is for us to take the pitch with a front row made up of three props.