Ireland's Healy has ban reduced

Published Wednesday, 27 February 2013

Ireland's Cian Healy will be available for selection in Six Nations games against France and Italy, after his three-week suspension was reduced on appeal.

Ireland's Cian Healy in action. (© Getty)

Tournament organisers confirmed the turn-around on Wednesday, with Healy tweeting that he was "very happy" with the outcome.

"The player had argued, among other things, that extending the three-week suspension over four weekends was not permissible under the relevant regulations," a Six Nations statement confirmed.

"The independent Six Nations disciplinary appeal committee - chaired by Professor Lorne Crerar (Scotland), along with Antony Davies (England) and Rod McKenzie (Scotland) - upheld the appeal."

The ban was initially extended to factor in a period over which Ireland wouldn't have been playing in the tournament anyway.

Healy's ban is now set to expire at midnight on 3 March, ahead of the game against France at the Aviva stadium in Dublin on 9 March.

The news will be a welcome boost for Ireland coach Declan Kidney after two defeats in the opening three games of the tournament.

Appeal successful, 3week suspension will finish on 3rd march, so now available for selection v France. Very happy with this. #church
— Cian Healy (@ProperChurch) February 27, 2013

Comments

1 Comments

william in galgorm wrote (82 days ago):

only rugby would witness a player trying to maim or break a leg of an opponent and issue a 2 week suspension and then reduce it to 1 week. any other sport and mr healys career would be watching from the stands.