Payne to face disciplinary hearing

Ulster full-back Jared Payne will go in front of a disciplinary panel tomorrow (9th April) following his red card in the Heineken Cup quarter-final against Saracens.

Payne was dismissed after just five minutes of the match at Ravenhill, which Saracens went on to win 17-15, by referee Jérôme Garcès.

Payne was shown the red card for a dangerous tackle on Alex Goode, who received lengthy treatment before play resumed.

European Rugby Cup have confirmed that the hearing will take place in Dublin and that Welshman Simon Thomas has been appointed as independent judicial officer.

The news comes after Ulster revealed that six players are nursing injuries following their narrow defeat.

Payne could face a ban of at least two weeks if the red card is upheld, which would come as another unwelcome blow in Ulster's bid for a RaboDirect Pro12 play-off place.

They currently lie third in the table with four matches remaining.