ROTHERHAM Rugby Club have laughed off claims they could be facing possible RFU sanctions after the row over ear-pieces.

The Clifton Lane side's players were yesterday accused by Coventry, following their weekend National One clash, of receiving on-field instructions from ear-pieces worn in scrum caps.

Coventry are yet to decide whether to make a formal complaint to the RFU but Rotherham's chief executive Jim Kilfoyle was not holding his breath.

"Yesterday was like a witch hunt," he said. "It was irritating because it took all day to deal with and we have an important game at the weekend!

"It hasn't affected the players because it's been me who has had to deal with all the media interest.

"It's a storm in a tea-cup, it basically originates from a hysterical woman in the crowd and someone has picked up the story."

Meanwhile, ahead of their crunch clash at Rotherham on Saturday, Worcester are sweating on the fitness of a number of key players.

Skipper Kingsley Jones is still feeling the after-effects of scrum pox while Ben Clarke is a doubt because of the neck injury which forced him out of the weekend win over Henley.

Head coach John Brain also has worries over Chris Yates (back) and Tony Yapp (calf) who picked up injuries during the match. Fly half Steven Vile has already been ruled out because of a hamstring problem.

With injuries in the back row, Richard Nias could be handed a starting role in the biggest game of the season, just seven days after his full debut against Henley.

Worcester prop forward Alejandro Moreno has been invited to trials for Italy prior to the Six Nations Championship.

The 28-year-old, who represented Italy in the 1999 World Cup, has been released by Worcester for four days to attend a training camp in Italy.