AN IRFU disciplinary panel will meet at 4pm in Ravenhill today to hear the citing against John Hayes for the red card he received during Munster's 30-0 defeat to Leinster on Saturday, writes GERRY THORNLEY.

Hayes received a red card under law 10.4 (b) for a stamp on Leinster’s Cian Healy in the 54th minute of the game.

The IRFU panel will consist of Hugh Logan (chair), assisted by Stephen Hilditch and Neil Jackson. Their findings will be released following the completion of the hearing.

The recommended IRB sanctions for this offence range from two weeks (lower end), five weeks (mid-range) and nine plus weeks (top end), up to a maximum of 52 weeks.

Hayes will be accompanied by Munster team manager Shaun Payne and the solicitor Donal Spring, and while they will be resigned to the player receiving a ban, given his near exemplary disciplinary record over such a long and distinguished career they will be hopeful of lower or mid-range suspension.

Peter Richards of London Irish has been banned for one week by the RFU for elbowing Sale Sharks’ Neil Briggs in the English Premiership match last Friday.