Guinness PRO12: Munster lock Donncha O'Callaghan banned for two weeks
Wednesday 3 December 2014 16:27, UK
Munster forward Donncha O’Callaghan has been handed a two-week ban for kicking Ulster’s Stuart Olding in Friday’s Guinness PRO12 clash between the provinces.
The veteran forward appeared before an independent Guinness PRO12 disciplinary committee in Glasgow on Tuesday after being cited for the incident which occurred during the first-half of Munster’s 21-20 win at Thomond Park.
The former British and Irish Lion caught Olding with his boot in the 41st minute and the Ulster fullback was forced to undergo a Head Injury Assessment (HIA) before returning to play on.
The committee found O’Callaghan had been “reckless” but acknowledged the contact with Olding was mainly on his shoulder and chest, and that the offence was at the lower end of sanctions for foul play.
The ban means O’Callaghan will be unavailable for Munster’s back-to-back European Rugby Champions Cup games against Clermont Auvergne on December 6 and 14.
Commenting afterwards Munster team manager Niall O'Donovan said: "We are obviously disappointed with today's outcome.
“Donncha has a long and unblemished professional rugby career spanning 17 seasons and takes great pride in his conduct on and off the field.
“The committee accepted the action wasn't intentional and decided the entry point for the offence to be at the lower-range, the four weeks reduced to two in mitigation."
