Free to face France: Cian Healy
Ireland prop Cian Healy is available for next week's Six Nations clash with France after his ban was reduced to one game on appeal.
Healy was initially banned for three weeks for stamping on England's Dan Cole, with his suspension only starting the weekend after the incident occurred rather than the day of the citing, thus ruling him out of last Sunday's game against Scotland and the French fixture in Dublin on March 9.
However, on Wednesday the 25-year-old prop successfully appealed against the decision and the ban will now run from the date of the offence (February 12).
"The player had argued, among other things, that by extending the three week suspension over four weekends (to take account of the first "break weekend" in the RBS 6 Nations Championship) was not permissible under the relevant regulations," read an appeal committee statement.
"The Appeal Committee therefore concluded that Cian Healy's suspension should end at midnight on Sunday 3 March 2013, and not a midnight on Sunday 10 March 2013."
Comments
ArmchairGeneral says...
This will create a stir. It's not right. 1 game for Healy and no card. Hes not missing any club game because he would not have been freed to play. International game when he offended. Hard purposeful anckle stamp. Red for Parisse playing for club in France and banned for rest of 6 nations for verbal offence.
Posted 23:13 27th February 2013
curates_egg says...
Gobsmacking
Posted 23:01 27th February 2013
PatrickH says...
I think I still fancy France for this one. I can't believe my dreams of traveling to Rome for a Grand Slam decider have turned into nightmares of traveling to Rome for a wooden spoon decider!
Posted 22:53 27th February 2013
carpelone says...
Appalling
Posted 22:40 27th February 2013
lacroix says...
farcical and disgraceful in equal measure. very bad for irish rugby.
Posted 22:00 27th February 2013
Strabane says...
I'm glad to have him back for the French game, but the IRB really should have foreseen this and banned him for the duration of the tournament. His attitude in the England game was deplorable and has no place in rugby.
Posted 20:58 27th February 2013
Irish_FAN16 says...
He should have been banned for the rest of the six nations never mind 3 weeks, his dangerous petulant behavior in the game against England was ridiculous. If he ever acts like that again he should be dropped.
Posted 20:45 27th February 2013
NHsaints says...
Ridiculous. He should not be let off on this technicality.
Posted 20:35 27th February 2013
keste03 says...
the disciplinary panel made a farce of this. He should have been banned for much longer.... but at least the potato farmers wont whinge about missing Healy when they get beat by Scotland.
Posted 20:22 27th February 2013
3in4 says...
The right and just decision. Healy's record is as clean as a whistle. Maybe Dan Cole will brush up on the basic rules of the breakdown and think again next time.
Posted 19:23 27th February 2013
melkdave says...
WHAT A DISGRACE,just lost all confidance in the entire disaplinary system of the IRB and its assosiated unions .THIS HAS TO CHANGE ASAP .A ban should be a BAN no appeals no excuses .
Posted 19:15 27th February 2013
DrDeath says...
Logical when you explain it like that!
Posted 18:56 27th February 2013
paddy91317 says...
Good..... as keith wood said at half time if it jad of been two inchs in the other direction (backwards) it wouldnt have even been a penalty... 3 weeks was right
Posted 18:52 27th February 2013
makemehappy says...
Can't believe he had the balls to appeal. Clearly got off very lightly. What planet are these guys on, reducing the ban for a cynical and viscious stamp?
Posted 18:24 27th February 2013
Johnny_Guitar says...
Sends out a very odd message to all players. Getting away with a stamp like that is utterly rediculous. As a Saints fan I've seen our players on the end of quite a few lengthy bans some warranted others on the hard side in my opinion. Surely a stamp like that deserves a proper punishment?
Posted 18:18 27th February 2013
scrumdog says...
Good outcome.
Posted 18:16 27th February 2013