McFadden gets three-week ban for stamp

McFadden appeared before a Pro12 disciplinary committee, having been cited by for stamping or trampling on an opponent in contravention of Law 10.4 (b) in the Pro12 match between Leinster and Connacht at the RDS Arena, Dublin on New Year's Day.

McFadden accepted that he had committed an act of foul play and that it would have warranted a red card.

Accordingly, the Disciplinary Committee, chaired by Pamela Woodman, alongside Roddy Dunlop and John Kirk (all from Scotland), considered what would be the appropriate sanction – having viewed video footage of the incident, listened to evidence and representations from and on behalf of the player, and reviewed all of the other evidence.

The disciplinary committee found that McFadden had acted recklessly and that the offending merited a mid-range entry point based on World Rugby's scale of seriousness, which carries a five-week playing suspension.

 The disciplinary committee further found that there were no aggravating factors and that there were a number of mitigating factors (including McFadden's acknowledgement of wrongdoing, his previous clean disciplinary record and his good conduct at the hearing) such that his playing suspension be reduced by two weeks.

 McFadden is therefore suspended from playing for a total of three weeks, up to and including Sunday, January 24.

 McFadden was reminded of his right of appeal.