Ruling upsets Greening

Dubai: Phil Greening fears people may stop playing rugby after he was ordered to pay 30,000 pounds in damages after being found guilty of causing an injury to France wing Aurelien Rougerie five years ago.

Rougerie suffered the injury while playing for Montferrand against Greening's Wasps, and needed three operations to repair the damage.

But the former England hooker, in Dubai with his Sporting Chance team, said the incident was "an accident" and could have severe implications for a contact sport such as rugby.

He said: "I never thought it would go this far. I feel sorry for him and the fact that he was injured, but the incident was just one of those things.

"I was carrying the ball and handed him off. It sets a precedent and is not good for the sport and could open a big can of worms."