Apology from Robinson after warning

There was something of the raging bull about the Northampton scrum-half Mark Robinson last Saturday when he aimed several volleys of overripe insults at Andrew Higgins, the Bath wing, during a Guinness Premiership match at Franklin's Gardens.

Yesterday, Robinson was more of a pussy cat as he issued an apology to his club and its paying public in the aftermath of the Rugby Football Union's investigation into race abuse allegations.

The New Zealander was cleared of making racial comments towards Higgins, despite statements from four Bath supporters to the contrary. He was, however, the recipient of a formal warning from the union's chief disciplinary officer, Judge Jeff Blackett, who took a very dim few of the scatological torrent admitted to by Robinson.

After Allan Robson, the Northampton chief executive, had read the riot act to his player - "Mark has been reminded that although rugby is an intense, emotional game, we are fortunate to have a large following of ladies and children who do not wish to hear expletives," he said - the half-back followed up by piling it on with a shovel. "I would like to whole-heartedly apologise for any aspersions that have been cast on myself and the good name of this great club following the findings of the RFU's investigation," he commented.

"I am a passionate rugby player and put my all into every game. Sometimes that passion boils, but this is purely a symptom of my dedication to my role in the game. I vow to continue to honour the black, green and gold of the club jersey in the best way I can." Judge Blackett's decisive handling of the matter drew praise from every corner of a game rarely blighted by such allegations since the collapse of apartheid in South Africa.

Quite whether the supporters who felt driven to make a stand by reporting their version of events, first to a steward during the game and then to the RFU, feel their views have been properly considered is another question. This much is for sure: rugby union is on trial as a result of last weekend's events, despite the official findings.

* Paul Hodgson, the London Irish scrum-half, has been banned for three weeks for a dangerous tackle during the Premiership match at Wasps earlier this month.