RUGBY UNION: Exiles keep eye on the ball (From The Oxford Times)

RUGBY UNION: Exiles keep eye on the ball

10:00am Tuesday 5th March 2013 in Sport By Ed Mezzetti, Sports reporter specialising in Rugby, Cricket and Athletics. Call me on 01865 425456

London Welsh head coach Lyn Jones said his players could only focus on rugby as the club prepared for today’s hearing that could define their season.

Welsh, who play at the Kassam Stadium in Oxford, face an RFU hearing, charged with fielding an ineligible player in scrum half Tyson Keats on a “number of occasions” in the Aviva Premiership.

If found guilty, they can expect a fine and a points deduction that could see them effectively relegated with five games remaining.

Jones would not comment specifically on the hearing, but said: “I could have told you last July this wasn’t going to be an easy season.

“All players can do is influence what they are in control of, and that’s their performances.

“The hearing on Tuesday is out of players’ control, there is nothing they can do.

“The facts will look after themselves. All we can do is prepare for games of rugby and get on with it.

“We will look forward to our last five games.”