Scarlets hunt Lomu assailant

It is more Wild West than West of Wales down in Llanelli with the news that the local weekly paper is to run a picture of the Scarlets' "Most Wanted Fan" in tomorrow's edition.

The Scarlets, who have promised to ban the fan for life, are appealing to townsfolk to help them identify the man, who was involved in an altercation with Cardiff winger Jonah Lomu during Monday evening's Celtic League match at Stradey Park. The incident was captured on the cameras of S4C, the Welsh language television company, who have sent the club a "still" image.

According to a club spokesperson, the picture of the man will be run in tomorrow's Llanelli Star under the headline: "Wanted."

The incident arose after the ball went out of play. When Lomu, the 6ft 5in, 19st former New Zealand All Black, went to fetch the ball the supporter, who was dressed in Scarlets' colours and had allegedly left the South enclosure to get pitch-side, threw the ball away. According to one report he then verbally abused Lomu, and it was also suggested that the fan challenged Lomu to a fight.

Stuart Gallacher, the Llanelli chief executive, said yesterday: "We have apologised to Cardiff and to Jonah Lomu. This sort of behaviour is a disgrace to the club and to the game of rugby. We want to know who the man is so that we can take appropriate action."

It was confirmed last night that Ospreys have appealed against the 10-week and two-day suspension handed to Gavin Henson after he was found guilty of deliberately elbowing an opponent in the Heineken Cup tie at Leicester last month.

As it stands the ban means Henson will miss Wales' first three matches in the RBS Six Nations Championship after being cited for elbowing the Leicester prop Alex Moreno.

ERC, the tournament's ruling body, announced that an appeal committee would be appointed and a hearing convened as soon as possible. The appeal committee will not contain any members of the original disciplinary committee which heard the citing.

The France lock Jérôme Thion, 28, who suffered a fractured larynx against South Africa in November, has resumed training with Biarritz and could return to action on Saturday against Toulon.

The England centre Mike Tindall was back in training yesterday with his Gloucester team-mates after being given the all-clear following a neck injury suffered in the Guinness Premiership match against Leeds at Kingsholm on New Year's Eve.