Healy free to play after red card is overturned

Leinster's Cian Healy is free to play in this Saturday's Heineken Champions Cup opener against Racing 92 after his red card against Ulster was overturned.

The loosehead was shown a straight red card by English referee Christophe Ridley in the 20th minute after making contact with the head of Ulster's Tom Stewart in the tackle, with the incident falling under Law 9.13 – A player must not tackle an opponent early, late or dangerously.

However, the URC have confirmed this evening that the disciplinary process against the Ireland international has been dropped after "sufficient mitigating factors", which they have not revealed.

"Upon review of the incident, the Panel overseeing the disciplinary process, Robert Milligan KC (Chair, Scotland), Nigel Williams (Wales), Simon Thomas (Wales), deemed that there was sufficient mitigating factors to reduce the Red Card to a Yellow Card," a statement reads

"Therefore the Red Card was not upheld and the Player can return to play effective immediately."

It means Healy will be available for Leinster's upcoming Champions Cup games against Racing 92 on Saturday, as well as their meeting with Gloucester at the RDS in Round 2.

The 35-year-old's red card was his first in more than 370 games for Leinster and Ireland.

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