Leinster are expected to name Cian Healy in their side for the RaboDirect Pro12 clash with Treviso by using a loophole in his ban.
Healy was suspended for three weeks on Wednesday, forcing him to miss Ireland's matches against Scotland and France after his ban was deferred for this weekend on the assumption that he would not be selected by Leinster.
However with the suspension not due to start until midnight on Sunday, Leinster believe they are well within their rights to use him against Treviso.
Ireland are yet to make a decision on whether to appeal the suspension.
"Cian is certainly available. (Leinster coach) Jose Schmidt and (Ireland coach) Declan Kidney have talked about the involvement of Test players this weekend," said Leinster forwards coach Jonno Gibbes.
"Cian's available and personally I'd be delighted to involve him, he's a really big asset. He will definitely be considered.
"There's are complications for others maybe, but he's available for us. It's a game in the break of the Six Nations and he's under consideration.
"Nothing is surprising when the rugby judiciary is involved. You have to go in with an open mind because you never know what will come out of it."
The matter is far from clear however as Ireland coach Kidney has been told that the prop is not allowed to play turning the situation into a fiasco.
"Experience has taught us to wait for the written judgment or explanation to come down and we'll take it from there concerning any appeal," said Kidney, who will wait until the written judgement is published before considering an appeal.
"Let's see what's in the judgment.
"It's certainly an option that he could play for Leinster this weekend, but we've been told that he's suspended and he's not allowed to.
"Cian's had a lot going on - a lot goes on with the citings process the way it is. There would certainly be benefit in him playing given everything that's happened.
"We asked the question yesterday whether he could play this weekend and we were told no, he is suspended."
Comments
bullitt says...
Utterly pathetic. First in the length of the ban he recieved when you look at the intent incident without being daft & one-yed like "99call" is, then that the IRFU are arrogant enough to appeal, then finally that Leinster have been offered the loophole to play him when banned, purely so the IRFU can use it as part of their bargaining chip to worm around the up-coming appeal.
Hopefully the judge at the appeal will see the arrogance and cheek, combined with what he did and double the length of his ban. The way he was acting through that match was disgusting and the run-in and stamp was nothing more then opportunistic retaliation because Cole was obliterating him in the scrum.
Posted 17:01 14th February 2013
BackingLeinster says...
The written judgement is out tomorrow. quite interested to see how they word that he isn't able to play on Saturday but will still only be banned for two weeks. Maybe they're not including holy days in the calculation seeing as its lent. If he plays tomorrow it will make a farce of the whole thing. if he doesn't well then something is completely wrong with the system if he can't then play against France.
I think they've gotten themselves in to a right situation and when the written judgement is given it will say 3 weeks from last Sunday.
Posted 16:52 14th February 2013
bothhands says...
Jose and hose B
Posted 16:10 14th February 2013
melkdave says...
If his available his available ,no ifs or buts,Im just glad that he is going to miss 6Ns matches rather than a meaningless Pro12 that on paper Leinster should win with or without him.At least his stupidity has hurt his and Irelands chances of wining the championship,and that has to matter morein the scheme of things
Posted 16:03 14th February 2013
99call says...
Well if his suspension isnt due to start until sunday then he can play I suppose it will teach them for coming up with a stupid ruling that he will be suspended for 2 weeks but it wont start for a week, as much as I dont agree with the suspension this just makes the whole thing a complete farce you can either play or you cant
Posted 15:19 14th February 2013
APV1 says...
Is it spelt
F
Arse!?
Posted 14:58 14th February 2013