THE disciplinary hearing of Craig Gillies has been put on hold after the Worcester lock was hit by a second stamping charge.

Gillies was shown a straight red card in Saturday's Guinness Premiership defeat to Bristol at the Memorial Ground after the incident, which also saw the home side's Joe El Abd shown a yellow card.

The Worcester player appeared before a Rugby Football Union panel of Jeff Blackett (chairman), John Doubleday and Paul Murphy at the Newbury North Hilton Hotel tonight.

But no verdict was reached because Warriors have been granted more time to seek legal advice. However, the RFU have confirmed the case will still be heard before Worcester's crucial trip to London Irish on Sunday.

An RFU spokesman said: "Worcester Warriors were granted an adjournment to consider a further charge of stamping on El Abd, contrary to Law 10 (4) b, following a report by the independent citing officer Peter Larter."

The club have issued no statement and are not expected to comment publicly until the legal proceedings have run their course.

But if Gillies is banned, it will be a big blow to Worcester's chances of Premiership survival.

The 6ft 8ins player is an integral part of the line-out which the team have often built their attacking game-plan around and Irish have the potential to exploit any weakness in that area.

Meanwhile, an England side containing Worcester Warriors duo Miles Benjamin and Matt Cox have one foot in the IRB Under 19s World Championship semi-finals after edging past Argentina in 17-15 in Belfast.

London Wasps' Hugo Ellis forced his way over for his seventh try in four games this season and Newcastle Falcons centre Alex Tait struck from long range. Saracens full-back Alex Goode added two conversions and a penalty.

They could not claim a bonus point, though, against a spirited South American side.

The result means England must take something out of Friday's final group game against New Zealand to stay in contention for a shot at a first-ever title.