O'Connell loses appeal against ban for red card

RUGBY NEWS ROUND-UP: PAUL O'CONNELL'S appeal against a four-week suspension has been dismissed by the ERC. The Ireland and Munster secondrow appealed against both the finding of foul play and the four-week sanction imposed after a disciplinary hearing following the red card he received during Munster's Heineken Cup Pool Three match against the Ospreys on Sunday, December 12th.

O’Connell will be free to play from January 10th, which means he will not be able to participate in any Magners League matches before Munster face Toulon in the fifth round of the Heineken Cup in France on Sunday the 16th.

Really, all O’Connell was hoping for was a week to be knocked off the ban to give him at least one competitive game before what will be one of Munster’s most demanding matches of the year and which will determine the team’s future in this season’s competition.

Yesterday’s ERC appeal committee, chaired by Prof Lorne Crear of Scotland, along with Rod McKenzie from Scotland and Simon Thomas from Wales, heard submissions from O’Connell, his solicitor and former Irish backrow Donal Spring, and from ERC disciplinary officer Roger O’Connor.

But the committee found the player had not demonstrated that the original decision had been in error, or that it should be overturned or varied, and therefore dismissed the appeal.

It has been a difficult period for the Limerick man, who has been out injured since last season with a groin injury. His Heineken Cup comeback lasted barely 10 minutes when referee Christophe Berdos reached for his red card in the 70th minute after O’Connell was seen swinging his right arm into the face of Jonathan Thomas as the Welshman held him back by the jersey. O’Connell had come off the bench earlier for his first serious competitive run in months.

Meanwhile, Connacht’s St Stephen’s Day Magners League derby against Munster has been moved to Monday the 27th at 6.10pm. The change was necessary to allow maximum time for the pitch to thaw following a night of heavy frost and freezing temperatures at the Sportsground.

Connacht management, in consultation with Munster officials and tournament organisers, reached the decision yesterday following a pitch inspection. Straw that had been laid on the pitch helped to minimise the effect of the Arctic conditions during the week, but it was unable to prevent the playing surface from freezing during Wednesday night’s -130C temperatures.

Connacht have said all tickets purchased for the game will be valid for Monday’s match.

Leinster’s match against Ulster that day is also under threat, although a decision will not be made until St Stephen’s Day or Monday morning. There is currently six inches of snow on the Ravenhill pitch, and the temperatures around Ravenhill were -8 all day yesterday, but the layer of snow is acting as insulation to the ground, which has been tested in patches and appears playable.

Ulster are already a game behind after their match against Dragons on December 3rd was cancelled due of frost. The game with Leinster has been sold out.

The referees have been selected for round five of the Heineken Cup on the weekend of January 14th-16th. Frenchman Romain Poite takes change of Leinster’s game against Saracens on January 15th, with Welshman Nigel Owens officiating for Ulster’s home match with Biarritz the same day.

Munster face Toulon in France the following day with England’s Dave Pearson taking charge. Ireland’s Alan Lewis travels to Italy for Treviso’s match against Perpignan, while Alain Rolland is in Wales for Scarlets against Leicester. Peter Fitzgibbon takes charge in Toulouse, who play Newport, and George Clancy has a Sunday match in London where Irish face Ospreys.

The annual Greystones v Firblogs game takes place on St Stephen’s Day at Dr Hickey Park (2.30). Half the gate receipts will be donated to Goal.

Munster Squad:S Deasy, J Murphy, C Murray, P Stringer, R OGara, D Hurley, L Mafi, S Tuitupou, T Gleeson, B Murphy, P Warwick, W du Preez, M Sherry, D Varley, S Henry, J Hayes, Dave Ryan, P Borlase, S Archer, D Ryan, I Nagle, A Quinlan, B Holland, T ODonnell, N Ronan, P Butler.