You’d be forgiven for thinking that it’s Groundhog Day and not New Year’s Eve because this all feels a little bit familar.
Cian Healy has been handed a two-week suspension 18 days after a knee to the head of Guilhem Guirado during Leinster’s 24-9 defeat to Toulon almost three weeks ago.
Cian Healy sent to the bin for Leinster. Harsh or fair? #ERCC
Follow: https://t.co/9bRG9ohWyy
https://t.co/qMJMfsLVnz— Ultimate Rugby (@ultimaterugby) December 13, 2015
Healy was sin-binned at the time and was cited a few days afterwards, receiving a two-week ban that he subsequently appealed.
The prop has since featured for the province but the suspension was upheld when Healy faced a disciplinary hearing in London on New Year’s Eve.
A statement from Leinster Rugby explains the punishment:
In upholding the citing complaint, the Judicial Officer decided that Healy had committed a reckless act of foul play and he found that the offence was at the low end of World Rugby’s sanctions and selected three weeks as the appropriate entry point.
He then reduced the sanction by one week taking into account the player’s good character and good conduct during the hearing before imposing a suspension of two weeks.
Healy is free to play on Monday, 11 January 2016. Both the player and EPCR have the right to appeal the decision.
