Leinster will not appeal Jack McGrath three-week ban

Leinster will not be appealing the three-week ban handed down to prop Jack McGrath for stamping on Ulster's Rory Best.

It means McGrath will miss Leinster's remaining two European Champions Cup pool matches against Castres this weekend and then Wasps in their final game.

With Cian Healy injured and McGrath out, it leaves Leinster short of props for their remaining European fixtures. Leinster could have appealed the ban but ran the risk of having it increased.

In a statement Leinster said: “After considering all the options and taken considerable advice, including legal, Leinster Rugby have this afternoon confirmed that they will not be appealing the decision by the Guinness PRO12 Disciplinary Committee to suspend Jack McGrath for three weeks, effectively ruling him out of the two Champions Cup, Pool 2 games this weekend and next.”

Meanwhile, Cardiff Blues secondrow Jarrad Hoeata has been banned for six weeks for his dangerous tackle on Leinster fullback Rob Kearney in the game at the Arms Park last Saturday.

Hoeta was shown a red card by Scottish referee Neil Paterson for the incident just after the half-hour mark and appeared before an independent Pro12 Rugby disciplinary committee on Wednesday.

It was decided that the incident was at the mid-range for the type of offence, carrying a six-week sanction.

An additional two weeks were added as a deterrent “but in light of several mitigating factors, including the player’s acceptance of the red card and his conduct at the hearing” the committee applied a two-week reduction

Hoeata will be available to return to action from February 23rd.

Saracens forward George Kruis will miss his club’s crucial Champions Cup clash with Munster this weekend but will be available for England’s Six Nations opener against Wales in Cardiff after he escaped with a three-week suspension for the dangerous tackle he committed against Gloucester at Kingsholm last Friday.

The lock, who made his Test debut as a replacement in November, was found guilty of upending the Tongan winger David Halaifonua but a Rugby Football Union disciplinary panel ruled that the offence was not at the top end of the scale. Kruis pleaded guilty having been cited for the tackle, for which he received a yellow card.

Kruis will also miss Saracens’ final European Cup pool match against Clermont and England Saxons’ game in Ireland at the end of the month but will be free to take his place in Stuart Lancaster’s Six Nations squad, which is due to be named next week.

London Irish have announced the appointment of Tom Coventry as head coach for the 2015-16 season. Coventry will arrive from Super Rugby team the Chiefs, where he has acted as assistant coach in the most successful period in their history. He will take over from Brian Smith, who has been released early from his contract on compassionate grounds.