HARLEQUINS FLANKER Will Skinner has been handed a two-week ban after he was sent off during last weekend’s Heineken Cup victory over Toulouse in France.
Skinner received a red card from Irish referee Alain Rolland for what European Rugby Cup described as “an act contrary to good sportsmanship”.
It followed an incident a minute from time at Le Stadium when Skinner, who had been replaced some 30 minutes earlier, played the match ball in the technical zone and prevented Toulouse from taking a quick lineout.
Skinner, who can appeal the decision, will be free to play again on January 2nd.
He will miss Quins’ Aviva Premiership games against Saracens at Twickenham next Tuesday and the New Year’s Eve trip to Exeter.
French referee Romain Poite will take charge of Ulster’s crucial round-five match against Leicester Tigers and Munster’s final Pool One game against Northampton Saints.
Poite took charge of the opening Pool One encounter when Ronan O’Gara kicked a last-minute drop goal to secure a 23-21 win against the Saints and was also in charge at Thomond Park two years ago when he yellow-carded Paul O’Connell during Munster’s 12-9 victory over the same opposition.
REFEREE APPOINTMENTS: Round five – Friday, January 13th: Pool Four: Ulster v Leicester, 8pm, R Poite (Fra). Saturday, January 14th: Pool One: Munster v Castres, 3.40pm, A Small (Eng); Pool Six: Toulouse v Connacht, 4.40pm, W Barnes (Eng). Sunday, January 15th: Pool Three: Glasgow v Leinster, 12.45pm, N Owens (Wal). Round six – Friday, Jaunary 20th: Pool Six: Connacht v Harlequins, 8pm, N Owens (Wal). Saturday January 21st: Pool One: Northampton v Munster, 7pm, R Poite (Fra); Pool Three: Leinster v Montpellier, 1.30pm, G Garner (Eng); Pool Four: Clermont Auvergne v Ulster, 3.40pm, D Pearson (Eng).
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