Flannery to miss entire Six Nations

RUGBY:Munster hooker Jerry Flannery will miss Ireland's entire Six Nations Championship campaign after an ERC sanctioned disciplinary committee handed him an eight-week suspension following an alleged stamping incident during the province's Heineken Cup round five pool match against Clermont Auvergne at the Stade Marcel Michelin on Sunday January 13th.

The citing lodged by the Citing Commissioner for the match, Achille Reali (Italy) was for alleged stamping/trampling on Clermont flanker Julien Bonnaire in contravention of Law 10.4 (b). The French international caught a blow from Flannery's boot at a ruck during the match, sustaining a cut to the eye lid and nose area of his face.

Bonnaire required treatment after the incident but was able to continue in the match. The independent disciplinary committee, chaired by Christopher Quinlan (England) and comprising of Roger Morris (Wales) and John Doubleday (England) found him guilty of the offence.

Following the hearing conducted at Buswell's Hotel in Dublin the ERC released a statement that included the following text. "After considering the evidence available, the independent disciplinary committee determined that the offence was of top end in the level of seriousness.

"Having taken into account any mitigating and aggravating factors the Committee suspended the player for a period of eight weeks up to and including Wednesday, March 19th, 2008."

Ireland's final match in the Six Nations takes place at Twickenham against England on March 15th, a campaign that begins tomorrow week against Italy at Croke Park.

Flannery was represented at the hearing by solicitor Donal Spring and was accompanied by a Munster delegation that included coach Declan Kidney. The player was not available for comment but Spring ventured: "We are very disappointed with the outcome and are considering an appeal."

A spokesperson for Munster explained that they would not be making a statement and was unable to give a firm indication of whether they would pursue that appeal. It is a hammer blow for the 29-year-old hooker who has won 21 Ireland caps, scoring three tries during that time, since making his debut against Romania in November 2005.

It will serve as scant consolation at present that he will be available for Munster's European Cup quarter-final clash against Gloucester at Kingsholm on Saturday, April 5th. Flannery will be eligible to play again in time for the province's Celtic League clash with Ulster at Musgrave Park, the weekend after the final round of games in the Six Nations.

He would be able to get another match under his belt ahead of the Gloucester game seven days later when Munster travel to the Sportsground to take on Connacht on the final weekend in March. This is in the event that yesterday's decision is not overturned by appeal.

It was a busy day for the Dublin-based independent disciplinary committees as they handed Wasps hooker Raphael Ibanez and Clermont flanker Alexandre Audebert four and eight week bans respectively.

The same trio that heard Flannery's case also presided over the Audebert hearing, the Frenchman accused of stamping/trampling on Munster and Ireland outhalf Ronan O'Gara, causing damage that required 20 stitches to a wound around his ear. The player also faced a citing for punching Alan Quinlan.

The ERC statement read: "The stamping offence was of the top end in the level of seriousness. Having taken into account any mitigating and aggravating factors the Committee suspended the player for a period of eight weeks up to and including Wednesday, March 19th, 2008. The punching offence did not warrant a red card and accordingly the disciplinary committee did not impose a separate suspension."

Ibanez was deemed guilty of stamping/trampling on Llanelli and Ireland flanker Simon Easterby and will miss a month's rugby. That particular disciplinary committee was chaired by Mark McParland (Ireland) and comprised Hugh Logan (Ireland) and Simon Thomas (Wales).

ERC also set disciplinary hearing dates for a further four cases arising out of incidents from the final round of European matches. London Irish's Bob Casey, Declan Danaher and Dan Murphy will be called to account for their actions next Thursday in Dublin while 24 hours earlier, Leicester prop Julian White will attend a hearing for punching Leinster's Malcolm O'Kelly at Welford Road.