ALEX NANKIVELL HAS won his appeal against his suspension in a massive boost to Munster two days out from their Champions Cup quarter-final against Bordeaux.
The centre was hit with a two-match ban following his red card in Munster’s URC interpro against Connacht, and was forced to watch the province’s thrilling win in La Rochelle from the stands last weekend.
Following a second hearing on Wednesday, Nankivell’s appeal was upheld, making him available for selection for Saturday’s showdown in Bordeaux.
Nankivell was sent off by Craig Evans for what the referee deemed to be illegal head contact on Connacht’s Cian Prendergast at a ruck.
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Munster and Nankivell failed in their initial appeal to have the red card overturned, and the New Zealander was handed a two-match ban by a disciplinary panel last week, potentially ruling him out of back-to-back European clashes.
The province attempted to appeal the suspension in advance of the trip to La Rochelle, but an appeal panel was not convened in time to allow him to be considered for selection for that game.
On Wednesday, however, a panel consisting of Rod McKenzie (Chair, Scotland), Achille Reali (Italy) and Rory Bannerman (Scotland) met to review Nankivell’s suspension. That panel upheld Munster’s appeal.
Ian Costello and co. will now be able to call upon Nankivell this weekend as they bid to take down the tournament’s top seeds and take one step closer to a first European final in 17 years.
Munster’s delegation for Nakivell’s hearing consisted of barrister Pat Barriscale, assistant coach Mike Prendergast, and team manager Niall O’Donovan.
The province confirmed on Thursday that O’Donovan will depart at the end of the season after working for 28 years within the Irish game, 13 of them as Munster’s team manager.
Affectionately known as ‘Niallo’, O’Donovan coached his club, Shannon, to an AIL four-in-a-row between 1995 and 1998. He joined Munster as an assistant coach in ’97 and was appointed Ireland men’s forwards coach in 2002, helping Ireland to achieve three Triple Crowns under Eddie O’Sullivan’s guidance.
O’Donovan was also appointed interim head coach for Ireland’s 2005 summer tour of Japan while O’Sullivan was in New Zealand with Clive Woodward’s touring Lions.
He returned to Munster in 2010, firstly working with Anthony Foley’s ‘A’ side before taking the reins as the province’s team manager in 2012, a position in which he will remain until the end of this season.
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Munster's Alex Nankivell free to play in Champions Cup clash as ban overturned on appeal
ALEX NANKIVELL HAS won his appeal against his suspension in a massive boost to Munster two days out from their Champions Cup quarter-final against Bordeaux.
The centre was hit with a two-match ban following his red card in Munster’s URC interpro against Connacht, and was forced to watch the province’s thrilling win in La Rochelle from the stands last weekend.
Following a second hearing on Wednesday, Nankivell’s appeal was upheld, making him available for selection for Saturday’s showdown in Bordeaux.
Nankivell was sent off by Craig Evans for what the referee deemed to be illegal head contact on Connacht’s Cian Prendergast at a ruck.
Munster and Nankivell failed in their initial appeal to have the red card overturned, and the New Zealander was handed a two-match ban by a disciplinary panel last week, potentially ruling him out of back-to-back European clashes.
The province attempted to appeal the suspension in advance of the trip to La Rochelle, but an appeal panel was not convened in time to allow him to be considered for selection for that game.
On Wednesday, however, a panel consisting of Rod McKenzie (Chair, Scotland), Achille Reali (Italy) and Rory Bannerman (Scotland) met to review Nankivell’s suspension. That panel upheld Munster’s appeal.
Ian Costello and co. will now be able to call upon Nankivell this weekend as they bid to take down the tournament’s top seeds and take one step closer to a first European final in 17 years.
Munster’s delegation for Nakivell’s hearing consisted of barrister Pat Barriscale, assistant coach Mike Prendergast, and team manager Niall O’Donovan.
The province confirmed on Thursday that O’Donovan will depart at the end of the season after working for 28 years within the Irish game, 13 of them as Munster’s team manager.
Affectionately known as ‘Niallo’, O’Donovan coached his club, Shannon, to an AIL four-in-a-row between 1995 and 1998. He joined Munster as an assistant coach in ’97 and was appointed Ireland men’s forwards coach in 2002, helping Ireland to achieve three Triple Crowns under Eddie O’Sullivan’s guidance.
O’Donovan was also appointed interim head coach for Ireland’s 2005 summer tour of Japan while O’Sullivan was in New Zealand with Clive Woodward’s touring Lions.
He returned to Munster in 2010, firstly working with Anthony Foley’s ‘A’ side before taking the reins as the province’s team manager in 2012, a position in which he will remain until the end of this season.
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