Ireland has lodged an appeal against loosehead prop Cian Healy's three-week suspension for a stamping offence in their loss to England.
The hearing for the appeal is set to be held next week.
Healy received his suspension for a stamp on England tighthead prop Dan Cole's ankle in the clash on February 10 in Dublin.
The ban did not come into effect until a week later, as the panel felt Healy would not have played for Leinster against the Scarlets this weekend.
Part of the appeal is due to the timing of the ban which does not expire until midnight on March 10.
The suspension means Healy is set to miss Ireland's March 9 home game against France, as well as this weekend's trip to face Scotland at Murrayfield.
Healy did not receive a yellow or red card for his offence from referee Jerome Garces during the match, but he was cited by citing commissioner Alberto Recaldini of Italy.
Comments
bullitt says...
Simple answer is to remove the reduction. Full 5 weeks off. Have a nice holiday.
I love how he's "Entitled" to have a 50% reduction because he's never been caught before. What a wonderfully contemptuous attitude. I guess Stevens should only have 1 years ban because he'd never been caught taking drugs before...
Posted 13:36 22nd February 2013
JamieTheProp says...
Shame that it can't be made simple by banning for a number of games (as how would you decide which games to take into account - Leinster or Ireland in this case.
But I think they should just clarify that he won't be available for the French game and then carry on - that is what they intended so that is what should happen.
personally I would have banned him until the end of the tournament for deliberately trying to seriously injure a player - but there we go.
Posted 13:23 22nd February 2013
Derrynane says...
The original decision was dodgy. If they were interested in banning him for 3 GAMES as opposed to 3 WEEKS, and they factored in that he would not be playing for Leinster against Treviso last week, then why did they not factor in that he would not be playing for Leinster next week against Dragons and extend the ban out to the Italy game?
Posted 12:33 22nd February 2013
deMJ says...
The disgraceful behaviour by Cian Healy should be stopped by a proper ban that is not wibbly wobbly but decisive and far longer than three weeks or four or whatever the truth of the matter is. We all saw the action, thoroughly unprovoked and unnecessary.
He should have been banned for the rest of the season.
If there is any doubt that his next game against England will not be exciting, looking forward to a return of the compliment
Posted 12:17 22nd February 2013
Hermes says...
He was given 5 weeks based in the offence. His record entitled him to the full 50% mitigation. They cant give 2.5 weeks so it was extended to three weeks. Then they deferred it for a week extending it to an effective 4 weeks!!! this is not on. it was rediculous that he did it. Dirty and stupid play but the lenghtening of the ban from 2.5 to 4 weeks is not fair and equitable.
Posted 11:45 22nd February 2013
TrevorW says...
Well I just watch the stamp on the ankle and being half English -Irish Dan Cole was very lucky not to have his ankle smashed to bits, how long would it have taken for that to fix? A couple of seasons me thinks or never as it could have been a career ending event ... 3 match ban what a joke, Cian Healy was no where the ball and should be ashamed, if you don?t believe me look it up in slow motion. Any talk of a life time ban is just plain stupid but 3 match ban doesn?t portray that right message and should be much longer.
Posted 11:19 22nd February 2013
lawynd says...
@12Counties - I do sort of agree with you, even if I still think it's outrageous cheek from the IRFU. I'd much, much prefer to see bans meted out in competitive games, to put this nonsense of players not actually missing games or only missing one or two to bed once and for all.
Posted 11:16 22nd February 2013
ArmchairGeneral says...
Agree the response is that if you don't like a 3 week ban that is effectively a 4 week ban then let's make it a 4 week ban effective 4 weeks
Posted 09:48 22nd February 2013
rugby_rockstar says...
The cinic in me is surprised it took so long. It's the professional thing to do.
Posted 09:47 22nd February 2013
12Counties says...
did anybody actually bother to read the article? Its nothing to do with the offence or the length of the ban that was handed down originally. He stamped. Hes guilty. 3 week ban. Fine. Then they pushed forward the start date to ensure that he missed 2 six nations match. Even that alone wouldn't have been too bad, but when it became apparent that he was now free to play for Leinster the week after the offence, they said he couldn't play in that either. At that point a 3 week ban became a 4 week ban.
Even if this is rejected, which I'd imagine it will be, at least it highlights the stupidity of the ban structure in the first place. If they wanted him to miss 2 six nations matches they should have banned him for 4 weeks to begin with, not try and second guess what Leinster matches he may or may not be released for during that period. They were trying to be a bit too clever and it backfired.
Posted 09:45 22nd February 2013
melkdave says...
I think they are appealing because the ban didnt start straight away,But to my mind the IRFU are on a hiding to nothing here,and the ban will be extended,remember it was 4 weeks cut down to 3 because of good behaviour.The IRB really have to sort out the judiary ,and the best way for them to do that,is good behaviour ect just doesnt come into it anymore.Meaning a ban will be a ban ,and not be cut for any reason.At the end of the day,i expect the ban to be extended by 2 weeks ,one extra to make sure he misses the France game ,and another just to prove the point
Posted 09:39 22nd February 2013
lawynd says...
Outrageous. I'm assuming that all the Irish supporters who called for Dylan Hartley to be hung, drawn and quartered will now be lambasting the IRFU?
Posted 09:05 22nd February 2013
pierredelot1 says...
Are they mad, he was lucky to get three weeks. Sometimes appeals can lead to the sentence being extended. Based on the fact that this could not be ignored, perhaps that should happen to teach bodies that they have to accept penalties for dirty play like that. Just shows how short of decent props Ireland are, this sounds like desperation to me.
Posted 09:03 22nd February 2013
sirtidychris says...
Can't see anyone going for this, having seen the incident 3 weeks during the sixnations seems about the correct level of punishment for a 19stone prop stamping on someones ankle joint in studded boots. Perhaps they should put another week on to make a point.
Posted 08:58 22nd February 2013
new_j4a says...
they should double the ban on appeal if there are no valid grounds to appeal i.e. new evidence?
Posted 08:54 22nd February 2013
99call says...
Here we go this is going to open up the flood gates by the end of the day someone on here will have called for a lifetime ban for him
Personnaly hope hes free to play against the french but if not we'll deal with it
Posted 08:50 22nd February 2013
PatrickH says...
Dodgy...
Posted 08:35 22nd February 2013