Relief for France as backline linchpin available for Six Nations despite ‘violent’ act
Jonathan Danty in action for France during the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
France’s midfield powerhouse Jonathan Danty has escaped with a two-week suspension after being sent-off while playing for La Rochelle before Christmas.
The 31-year-old appeared to kick Stade Francais centre Jeremy Ward in the early stages of the Round 10 Top 14 clash on December 23.
Ward was yellow carded for cynically holding onto the leg of Danty, but the Frenchman’s reaction to the incident saw him red carded.
Video of the incident
Pour rappel, voilà le geste pour lequel Jonathan Danty est suspendu deux semaines. On va dire qu’il s’en tire bien à quelques semaines du Tournoi… #XVdeFrance @acturugby pic.twitter.com/RkOwUgE8hn
— Thomas Corbet (@thomascorbet_ar) January 4, 2024
La Rochelle were 10-3 down when Danty received his marching orders and the two-time Champions Cup winners would go on to lose 18-13 at the Stade Jean-Bouin.
Les Bleus’ international immediately apologised to Ward but stamping or “trampling on someone” is deemed to be an act of “brutality” by the laws stipulated by the Ligue Nationale de Rugby.
The ‘violent’ motion was deemed to meet the lower-end threshold, which results in a four-week ban but, after the mitigation was applied, it was reduced to two.
Danty has already served one of those matches – Saturday’s dominant 29-8 triumph over Toulouse – and will also miss their next Top 14 clash against Pau.
As a result, he will be available for their final Champions Cup group games against English Premiership sides Leicester Tigers and Sale Sharks.
The centre will also be able to take part in France’s upcoming Six Nations campaign as they seek to regain the title they won in 2022.
Another France international banned
Danty has been joined on the naughty step by fellow international Romain Taofifenua, who was handed a three-week ban after being sent-off against Bordeaux-Begles.
The lock was red carded for a dangerous tackle, which saw him connect with the head of Romain Buros just before half-time with his team 11-10 in arrears.
It proved costly as Lyon went on to lose 46-10 as UBB ran riot in the second period with their opponents down to 14 men.
Taofifenua will therefore be absent for this weekend’s Top 14 clash against Toulouse and the Champions Cup tie with Connacht but, like Danty, it does not extend into the Six Nations.
The second-row announced his international retirement following the Rugby World Cup but reversed that decision soon after and made himself available for Fabien Galthie’s outfit.
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