Munster back Jack O'Donoghue banned for three weeks

Munster back Jack O'Donoghue has been suspended for three weeks for a high tackle on Northampton's David Ribbans in his side's 27-23 Heineken Champions Cup win at Thomond Park last Saturday.

An an independent disciplinary hearing conducted by European Professional Club Rugby deemed the 23rd-minute challenge dangerous and a contravention of Law 9.13, which stipulates that "a player must not tackle an opponent dangerously".

The committee upheld the red card decision, finding that in carrying out the tackle O’Donoghue had made contact with Ribbans’ head.

It then determined that the offending was at the mid-range of World Rugby’s sanctions and six weeks was selected as the appropriate entry point.

As the player has a clear disciplinary record, and as there were no aggravating factors, it was decided to grant him the full 50% mitigation and the committee therefore reduced the sanction by three weeks.

O’Donoghue is free to play on Monday, 20 February due to Munster’s fixture schedule. However, if he applies for and successfully completes a World Rugby coaching intervention, he will be free to play on Monday, 30 January.

Both O'Donoghue and EPCR have the right to appeal the decision.

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Watch Leinster v Racing 92 in the Champions Cup on Saturday from 2.30pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player with live blog on RTÉ.ie/Sport and the RTÉ News app. Listen to live commentary on Saturday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1.