Ubogu dropped by Bath for Cup

RUGBY UNION

Victor Ubogu paid the price for letting Bath down last weekend when he was pointedly excluded from the Bath team to play Harlequins at The Stoop in Saturday's Pilkington Cup semi-final.

The England prop informed the club at too late a stage that he was going to watch the Hong Kong Sevens instead of playing at Wasps, where Bath's defeat has put their league title in jeopardy. Ubogu did not train last night and is superseded by another World Cup squad member, John Mallett.

Nick Greenstock played for England in Hong Kong and on his return finds he is out of the Wasps team for the other semi, at Leicester. Wasps stand by the team who beat Bath in the league.

Leicester will be without Dean Richards, but the England No 8 is making better progress than expected from his rib injury and will almost certainly be ready for the Tigers' First Division decider against Bath on 15 April. Richards's semi-final spot goes to Chris Tarbuck. Harlequins have delayed selection for the Bath game.

Norm Hadley, of Wasps, has been dropped by Canada after criticizing the national set-up.

Bath (v Harlequins, Pilkington Cup semi-final, Saturday): J Callard; A Swift, P de Glanville, J Guscott, J Sleightholme; M Catt, I Sanders; K Yates, G Dawe, J Mallett, M Haag, N Redman, J Hall (capt), B Clarke, S Ojomoh.

Leicester (v Wasps, Pilkington Cup semi-final): J Liley; T Underwood, S Potter, D Edwards, R Underwood; J Harris, A Kardooni; G Rowntree, R Cockerill, D Garforth, M Johnson, M Poole, J Wells (capt), C Tarbuck, N Back.

Wasps: J Ufton; S Roiser, D Hopley, G Childs, P Hopley; R Andrew, S Bates; N Popplewell, K Dunn, I Dunston, M Greenwood, N Hadley, L Dallaglio, D Ryan (capt), M White.