Irish Rugby : RBS 6 Nations : Healy Appeal Upheld

IRFU provincial and national age grade coaches - Under-18s, Under-19s and Under-20s - and IRFU elite player development staff from the four provinces gathered recently to review their experiences, discuss challenges and align closer to ensure the development of more effective elite players across the IRFU Elite Player Pathway.

The appeal by Ireland prop Cian Healy against the application of his three week suspension was heard in Glasgow today.

Cian Healy had argued, among other things, that by extending the three week suspension over four weekends (to take account of the first 'break weekend' in the RBS 6 Nations Championship) was not permissible under the relevant regulations.

The independent Six Nations disciplinary appeal committee, chaired by Professor Lorne Crerar (Scotland) along with Antony Davies (England) and Rod McKenzie (Scotland) upheld the appeal.

The appeal committee therefore concluded that Healy's suspension should end at midnight on Sunday, March 3, and not at midnight on Sunday, March 10.

That means he will be available to play for Ireland in Saturday week's RBS 6 Nations clash with France at the Aviva Stadium (kick-off 5pm).

Speaking ahead of Ireland's final RBS 6 Nations match against Italy, hooker Rory Best said: "We took a lot of positives from the France game, we'll take those forward and build on them. We can potentially finish third in the Championship and we're looking to end the campaign with a good win in Rome."

Speaking ahead of Ireland's upcoming RBS 6 Nations encounter with France, prop Mike Ross said: "We were enormously frustrated after the Scottish game. We're playing at home (this Saturday), it's a big source of pride for us. We want to get back to winning ways. Even though the Championship is gone, it's our home patch and you want to win every time you pull on the green jersey."

Irish Rugby TV caught up with Jenny Murphy at the Ireland Women's Sevens training camp. We spoke to the centre about the pool draw for the Rugby World Cup Sevens in Moscow, the difference between Sevens training and regular training and we look forward to the game against France at Ashbourne RFC on Friday.

Speaking ahead of Ireland's upcoming RBS 6 Nations clash with France, hooker Rory Best said: "We still have two games left to play and we have to make sure we finish well. It's going to be a tough challenge against France. But we're back at home, it's a sell-out and we need to make sure we put away the chances we create more efficiently than we have done."