CENTRE ALEX NANKIVELL is set to be free to play in Munster’s 2024/25 URC curtain-raiser at home to Connacht after receiving a three-game ban for his red card against Glasgow, a sanction which will be reduced to two games when he completes ‘tackle school’.
Nankivell would then miss only Munster’s two pre-season friendlies away to Bath and at home to Gloucester on 31 August and 6 September after being sent off in Munster’s URC semi-final defeat at Thomond Park last month.
Judicial officer Sibonile Khoza found that Nankivell’s dangerous clear-out of a ruck in the 74th minute of Munster’s 17-10 defeat to eventual champions Warriors – for which he received a red card from referee Andrea Piardi — warranted a mid-range entry of six weeks.
That suspension was halved due to Nankivell’s apology and good record.
It will be reduced by a further game should Nankivell complete World Rugby’s Coaching Intervention Programme, which would free him up for URC kick-off at home to Connacht on 21 September.
Meaningless pre season games being part of a suspension is a complete joke.
@Aidan Farrell: I agree but I’m very happy to have him available for the league opener.
Hon Munster
With the departure of Frisch, the warm up games will be useful to assess our other centres, our new man Farrell from Connacht, and who else? Sean O’Brien was badly exposed for pace against Glasgow? Rory Scannell is not the answer either?