Suspension Rules Flannery Out Of Six Nations
Munster hooker Jerry Flannery will play no part in Ireland’s upcoming Six Nations campaign after being banned for eight weeks for stamping on Clermont Auvergne flanker Julien Bonnaire during a recent Heineken Cup pool match.
Flannery was in Dublin today for the disciplinary hearing after being cited by citing commissioner Achille Reali (Italy) for the incident in Munster’s defeat to Clermont Auvergne in France on January 13.
The Irish international appeared by an independent disciplinary committee, chaired by England’s Christoper Quinlan and also comprising of Roger Morris (Wales) and John Doubleday (England).
After considering the evidence available, the committee ruled that “the stamping offence was of the top end in the level of seriousness” and banned Flannery from all rugby up to and including Wednesday, March 19.
That is four days after Ireland’s final match of the 2008 Six Nations against England, although Flannery will be able to play for Munster in their Heineken Cup quarter-final away to Gloucester on April 5.
He does have the right to appeal against the suspension. Flannery was legally represented today by former Munster and Ireland international Donal Spring and accompanied to the hearing by Munster coach Declan Kidney.
Afterwards, Kidney and Flannery left without comment but Spring said: “we are very disappointed with the outcome and are considering an appeal.”