Six-week ban for Flannery

Ireland hooker Jerry Flannery will miss the remainder of the RBS Six Nations after being handed a six-week ban for kicking an opponent.

Ireland hooker Jerry Flannery will miss the remainder of the RBS Six Nations after being handed a six-week ban for kicking France winger Alexis Palisson during Saturday's 33-10 defeat in Paris. The Munster hooker has been banned until March 29, ruling him out of Ireland's fixtures against England, Wales and Scotland. The incident occurred after the Palisson had picked up a loose ball - Flannery's wild swing then stopping the Brive winger in his tracks. However, he escaped a potential red card after referee Wayne Barnes missed the offence. Barnes consulted his touch judge Stuart Terheege, who believed the challenge to be a "shoulder charge" and a penalty was conceded. Television replays showed the severity of the incident although, having been forced from the field, Palisson was found to have suffered a dead leg rather than the more serious injury some at first feared.

Reckless

An independent disciplinary panel found the offence had been reckless rather than deliberate. Flannery, who pleaded guilty and acknowledged the offence deserved a red card, nevertheless has the right to appeal the decision. Rory Best of Ulster is the likely choice to replace Flannery at hooker after recovering from neck surgery in time for the Six Nations. The Grand Slam winners play England at Twickenham on Saturday before finishing the tournament against Wales and Scotland. The Irish Rugby Football Union released a statement following the verdict which said: "The IRFU and Ireland team management will wait to review the written judgement before considering any further possible action." Flannery's suspension currently expires in time for him to play in Munster's Magners League game against Leinster on the first weekend of April. Munster then take on Northampton in the Heineken Cup quarter-finals at Thomond Park on April 10.