Red-carded O'Mahony cops three-week ban

DISCIPLINARY UPDATE: Ireland flank Peter O’Mahony was Tuesday banned for three matches after being sent off for a “reckless” tackle in the Six Nations defeat to Wales at the weekend.

O’Mahony was shown a red card following a brutal head-high hit on prop Tomas Francis in the 13th minute of the encounter in Cardiff, which ended in a 21-16 win for Wales.

The Ireland back row forward, 31, appeared before a three-strong independent disciplinary committee via video conference on Tuesday.

“The player admitted the act of dangerous play in a ruck and that the offending merited a red card,” said a Six Nations statement, with the offence described as “reckless”.

#⃣INJURY UPDATE @IrishRugby have a few concerns ahead of their @SixNationsRugby Round Two encounter with @FranceRugby
🚑There may just be a flyhalf crisis#Rugby #SixNations #IREvFRA
🔗https://t.co/57Dx7LKGwL pic.twitter.com/QHWnAYeLDx

— rugby365.com (@rugby365com) February 9, 2021

The committee determined the appropriate punishment for the offence was six weeks.

But the statement added: “It was accepted that there were no off-field aggravating factors, and the disciplinary committee concluded after careful consideration of the player’s record and conduct in the hearing, that the player was entitled to a 50 percent reduction of sanction in mitigation.

“The player is suspended from February 7 to March 14, which represents three meaningful matches to the player. The player is free to play again on March 15”

It means O’Mahony will miss Ireland’s Six Nations matches against France, Italy and Scotland.

Andy Farrell’s men are due to host England in their final match in this year’s tournament on March 20.