Any hopes the Ulster centre had of making it into the Ireland squad for the remainder of the Six Nations are over.
Luke Marshall has been hit with a five-week ban for kicking the head of Scarlets winger Michael Tagicakibau, last Friday.
A Guinness PRO12 disciplinary committee handed out the ban after Marshall’s indiscretion, after 54 minutes, was caught on camera. The Fijian winger received treatment on the pitch before he was replaced.
A statement from the PRO12, reads: ‘Having listened to representations by and on behalf of the player, and viewed TV footage of the incident, found that Marshall had committed an act of foul play which would have warranted a red card and considered it to be at the mid-range of World Rugby’s sanctions for this type of offence, which carries an entry-point of 8 weeks.
The committee found that there were no aggravating factors, and after taking into account various mitigating factors including the player’s unblemished playing record, the committee reduced the entry point by three weeks and imposed a five week suspension. The player is suspended from playing until midnight on Sunday, April 12, taking into account one “down” week and has the right of appeal.’
Here is a video clip of the incident:
