IRELAND CENTRE BUNDEE Aki will miss out on involvement in his side’s Six Nations opener against France in Paris next week and has been dropped from the squad due to a disciplinary issue.

The Connacht centre did not travel to Portugal with Andy Farrell’s group this week and will not be considered for the clash with Les Bleus, with Ulster’s uncapped centre Jude Postlethwaite taking Aki’s place in the squad.

The URC has confirmed that Aki will face an independent disciplinary hearing today following Connacht’s defeat to Leinster last weekend.

Aki is “alleged to have engaged with the match official team on several occasions in a manner which may be deemed to be in breach of the league’s disciplinary rules.”

The IRFU is separately investigating the matter internally. The union said that it “does not tolerate any form of disrespect shown towards match officials and does not condone actions that fall below the standards expected of players representing Irish rugby.”

Connacht man Aki was overheard remonstrating with referee Eoghan Cross about a possible high tackle during the game, while he was later warned for further comments, but it’s believed that the misconduct charge also relates to alleged events after the match.

Ulster man Stuart McCloskey was the favourite to wear Ireland’s number 12 shirt against the French anyway, having taken over as first-choice in that position last autumn before suffering a groin injury.

However, 68-times capped Aki has remained a key figure in Farrell’s set-up and may have been part of the matchday 23 to take on the French at Stade de France on Thursday, 5 February.

Aki started at inside centre against South Africa in November when McCloskey was missing. Aki also started two of the Lions’ Tests against the Wallabies under Farrell last summer in Australia.

Aki was used off the bench by Connacht last weekend in their home defeat to Leinster, with Cathal Forde starting at number 12.

Aki was named in Ireland’s Six Nations squad last week along with fellow centres McCloskey, Garry Ringrose, and Tom Farrell, while Jamie Osborne and Ciarán Frawley can also play in midfield.

McCloskey and Ringrose are widely expected to be the starting centre pairing for Ireland’s game in Paris.

The URC’s statement reads as follows:

“Connacht Rugby’s Bundee Aki will appear in front of an Independent Disciplinary Committee in relation to a Misconduct Complaint made against him under the URC Disciplinary Rules.

“After the Round 10 BKT United Rugby Championship fixture on Saturday, January 24 at Dexcom Stadium, Galway, the Player is alleged to have engaged with the match official team on several occasions in a manner which may be deemed to be in breach of the league’s Disciplinary Rules related to Misconduct (including Clause 3.1, 3.2 and 3.3).

“An Independent Disciplinary Committee will meet today (Wednesday, January 28) to consider the Complaint in accordance with the URC Disciplinary Rules. Roddy Dunlop KC (Scotland) will serve as Chair, with Attie Heyns (South Africa) and Andrea Caranci (Italy) completing the committee.”