Cian Healy is out of Leinster's three inter-provincial matches over the festive period after being slapped with a three match ban. However the Blues' prop will be free to play in time for the Champions Cup home clash with Glasgow.
It is his second punishment in the space of eight months after he was banned for two weeks in April for breaking exactly the same rule in a league match against Connacht. The latest one comes following an independent Disciplinary Hearing today arising from the Champions Cup win over Exeter Chiefs at the Aviva Stadium.
The Ireland international was shown a yellow card following the incident by match referee and was then cited by the match Citing Commissioner for charging into a ruck in the 17th minute of the match. A contravention of the law, 10.4 (h), carries a sanction of; Low End: 2 weeks; Mid-range: 6 weeks; Top end: 10 to 52 weeks.
An independent Disciplinary Committee 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.
The Committee upheld the citing complaint, determining that Healy's act of foul play warranted a red card but found that the offence was at the low end of World Rugby's sanctions.
The Committee then added one week due to the player's recent poor disciplinary record, and despite Healy's guilty plea, it was decided that there were insufficient mitigating factors present to warrant any reduction of the sanction.
It left Healy with a three-week suspension, leaving him is free to play on Monday January 8. Both the player and EPCR have the right to appeal the decision.
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