CIAN HEALY WILL miss Leinster’s three Pro14 inter-pro derbies over the Christmas and New Year period after being handed a three-week ban by an independent disciplinary panel.

Appearing in front of a hearing in London this afternoon, the Leinster prop pleased guilty to the offence of charging into a ruck during the Champions Cup win over Exeter Chiefs last weekend.

Healy was shown a yellow card by match referee Pascal Gauzere for the incident, which occurred 17 minutes into Leinster’s 22-17 win at the Aviva Stadium.

The disciplinary panel upheld the citing complaint and determined that Healy’s act of foul play warranted a red card. It found that the offence was at the low end of World Rugby’s sanctions and two weeks was selected as the appropriate entry point.

However, it was then decided that due to Healy’s poor disciplinary record, a three-week suspension was imposed which rules the Ireland international out until Monday 8 January.

He will therefore miss the Pro14 games against Munster on St Stephen’s Day and the back-to-back home double-header against Connacht on New Year’s Day and Ulster on 6 January.

An EPCR statement read: “An independent Disciplinary Committee consisting of Gareth Graham (England), Chairman, Rod McKenzie (Scotland) and Leon Lloyd (England) heard evidence and submissions by video conference from Healy, who pleaded guilty to the offence, from the player’s legal representative, Derek Hegarty, from Leinster Rugby’s Head of Rugby Operations, Guy Easterby, and from the EPCR Disciplinary Officer, Liam McTiernan.”

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