“It is not an illegal act at the start, where he starts.”
It has been confirmed that Ulster and Ireland prop Tom O’Toole will receive a six-week ban for a red card offence during Ulster’s loss to Munster last month. He will miss two of Ireland’s upcoming Six Nations games.
The tight head tackled the leg of Alex Nankivell at a ruck, with the Munster centre forced off the field, and is still out with a hamstring issue.
While a red card was a fair call, considering O’Toole did target Nankivell’s lower limbs, it was not a malicious act.
The ruck continues to be the messiest area in the game, where players must fight tooth and nail, in dangerous positions, to secure possession.
After the game, Ulster head coach Richie Murphy said: “Obviously the red card is a big moment in the game. It’s a tough red because he’s square, he’s through the gate, he makes contact square on, he’s not on the side, but as that guy is knocked backwards, his leg comes out and Tom does fall on his leg.
“So I can kind of understand that, but it is difficult because it is not an illegal act at the start, where he starts.”
Earlier in the season, Stade Francais saw two players sent off during their clash with Munster at Thomond Park. Both acts certainly had more malicious intent than O’Toole’s tackle, but the players received bans of two and three weeks.
As such, fans have voiced their displeasure at the harsh suspension given to O’Toole, which will also see him miss the first two games of the Six Nations.
6 weeks seems harsh.
— Old Sulians RFC (@Oldsuliansrfc) January 6, 2025
6 weeks? Is this a joke? Should instantly appeal that
— ㅤ (@BAShelley) January 6, 2025
That’s tough considering what Stade players got
— Robert G (@Robrt_Irl) January 6, 2025
6 weeks is an awful long time. O’toole would have had a perfect clear out if he didn’t join simultaneously with Warwick & as a result had his direction change.
— Alan.Wilkinson (@wilkin24160) January 6, 2025
