Bath prop John Mallett has been cleared to play in tomorrow's crunch Heineken Cup clash against Munster at the Recreation Ground.

Mallett appeared before a Rugby Football Union disciplinary panel in Bristol on Wednesday after receiving three Premiership yellow cards and a potential regulation one-match ban.

But his appeal against a caution collected at Northampton last month was upheld, freeing Mallett for this weekend's critical Pool Four encounter.

Mallett also received a yellow card in the Heineken Cup opener against French club Castres 16 days ago, but that misdemeanour was not considered, in keeping with stances adopted by other Home Unions.

Had Mallett, capped by England during the 1995 World Cup, been suspended, then Bath were ready to call up veteran Victor Ubogu into their match-day squad.

Ubogu, who retired last season, had been ready to step in as a last-minute reserve had he been called into action.