Munster and Ireland lock Paul O’Connell admitted to being “both relieved and happy” after receiving a two-week ban from the Six Nations Disciplinary Committee today in London.
Munster and Ireland lock Paul O’Connell admitted to being “both relieved and happy” after receiving a two-week ban from the Six Nations Disciplinary Committee today in London.
The 25-year-old – who was handed down the suspension for his part in a punching incident with Wales second row Robert Sidoli in last Saturday’s 32-20 loss in Cardiff – said: “I am both relieved and happy that the process is now over and the hearing that I received was fair in its decision.”
That decision means the 6ft 6in star can take his place in the Munster line-up for their Heineken Cup quarter-final clash with Biarritz Olympique on Sunday, April 3 – but only by a matter of hours.
As a result of his ban being back-dated to Saturday, March 19 and running out at midnight on Saturday, April 2 – O’Connell is available for selection for his province in San Sebastian.
He will however, miss Alan Gaffney’s side’s Good Friday meeting with the Newport-Gwent Dragons in the Celtic League.
Ireland coach Eddie O’Sullivan said of this afternoon’s minimum sanction verdict: “The two-week suspension that Paul received I believe is a fair outcome in terms of what took place during the incident. It was a fair hearing and both he and I are happy that justice has been done.”
The three-man Committee was chaired by Lorne Crerar (Scotland) and included Jeff Probyn and Bob Taylor (both England).
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