Giovanelli banned for 60 days

Rugby Union

Rugby Union

Massimo Giovanelli, Milan's back-row forward sent off for head-butting in a Heineken European Cup tie against Pontypridd last week, has had a 60-day ban upheld. Giovanelli had appealed against the length of the suspension.

Munster, the reigning Irish inter-provincial champions, will field a largely experimental team in Saturday's match against Transvaal in Cork. The side includes five new men and three positional changes from the line- up that lost to Ulster last week.