DECLAN KIDNEY HAS received a much-needed boost this afternoon with the news that the appeal against Cian Healy’s ban has been upheld by 6 Nations chiefs.
The Leinster forward will now be available for selection against France in Dublin on 9 March. Healy was cited for stamping on England’s Joe Marler during the 6-12 loss at the Aviva Stadium.
“Appeal successful,” the player tweeted earlier. “3-week suspension will finish on 3rd march, so now available for selection v France. Very happy with this. #church”
The ban was spread over four weeks in an attempt to take account of the first ‘break’ weekend of the Six Nations, the concern among officials being Healy could simply have used up a week of the ban when he would not have been playing in any event.
But matters were complicated by the fact that on the ‘break’ weekend his province, Leinster, had a Pro12 match against Italian side Treviso.
Leinster wanted him to play in that fixture but were told by officials that Healy, who also missed last weekend’s 12-8 Six Nations loss away to Scotland, was barred from that match too. However, Healy argued extending the three week suspension over four weekends was not permissible under the relevant regulations.
And an independent disciplinary appeal committee, chaired by Scotland’s Professor Lorne Crerar agreed on Wednesday, saying they “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.”
Tempers flared in the 14th minute of England’s victory in Dublin when Healy used his boot on rival front row Cole’s ankle at a ruck formed following a collapsed maul, sparking a mass brawl. Match referee Jerome Garces of France took no action at the time, but Healy was cited by Italian citing commissioner Alberto Recadini.
Last Sunday, injuries and Healy’s suspension forced Ireland coach Declan Kidney into making five changes at Murrayfield, with the looshead prop’s place taken by Tom Court.
This weekend is the second ‘break’ in the Six Nations, with the tournament resuming on 9 March. Ireland are currently fourth in the table, having beaten champions Wales in Cardiff on the first weekend only to since lose to England and Scotland.
- additional reporting AFP
