Leinster to appeal Cian Healy’s two-week suspension

Leinster are to appeal the two-week suspension handed down to prop Cian Healy and have asked that the sanction be lifted pending the outcome.

Healy was earlier handed the suspension at an EPCR disciplinary hearing in Paris for an act of foul play in the European Champions Cup defeat away to Toulon last Sunday.

Healy received a yellow card from Welsh referee Nigel Owens for the incident in the first half of the game at the Stade Felix Mayol.

Citing commissioner John Byett then charged the loosehead prop with an alleged knee strike on Toulon hooker Guilhem Guirado.

Healy pleaded not guilty to the offence and EPCR judicial officer Roger Morris decided that the charge of striking could not be proven. However, he determined that Healy had committed an act of foul play and amended the charge to dangerous charging or obstructing or grabbing of an opponent without the ball, including shouldering – Law 10.4 (f) and Law 10.4 (k).

Morris found that the offence was at the low end of World Rugby’s sanctions and selected two weeks as the appropriate entry point.

Although there were no aggravating factors, Morris decided that no reduction was available due to the fact that the player does not have a clean disciplinary record, before imposing a suspension of two weeks.

The Ireland international was due to miss the return tie against the defending three-time champions at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday and the big interpro clash with Munster at Thomond Park on Sunday, December 27th.

Leinster’s appeal is based on the fact that they, or Healy, were never given a chance to answer the new charge during the hearing.

“Leinster believe that this is a failure to follow due process and is unfair to Cian Healy,” a Leinster statement released on Thursday night read.

“Leinster Rugby have further requested that the chairman of the disciplinary panel lift Cian Healy’

s suspension pending the outcome of the appeal, which Leinster are confident will be successful.”