Three-week ban for Ulster lock
Ulster lock Alan O'Connor has been slapped with a three-week foul-play ban, following the Pro12 encounter with Glasgow last Saturday.
O'Connor appeared before aPro12 disciplinary committee, following the citing complaint made against him for a dangerous tackle – under law 10.4(e) – on Glasgow's Mark Bennett.
The disciplinary committee, chaired by Roger Morris (Wales) – along with Rhian Williams (Wales) and Barry O'Driscoll (Ireland) – viewed footage of the incident, considered evidence of the injuries suffered by Bennett (who was left unconscious) and listened to representations made by and on behalf of the player.
They found that the incident was at the mid-range of the IRB sanctions for this type of offence, carrying a six-week sanction.
In the absence of any aggravating factors and in light of several compelling mitigating factors, including the player's exemplary previous playing record, the disciplinary committee applied a three-week reduction from the entry point and suspended the player from playing for three weeks.
O'Connor is free to resume playing from Monday, November 3 and has the right of appeal.
