Frankie Sheahan is being punished too harshly for a technical offence

A FEW weeks ago I spoke with a woman who I’ve always regarded as the quintessential rugby mother. Her son played for one of the big Cork clubs, she never misses an international and for the life of her she cannot understand why Ireland doesn’t select 14 Munster players to partner Brian O’Driscoll.

I thought she'd have all guns blazing in defence of Frankie Sheahan, the Munster hooker in trouble over a drug test. To my surprise, she was holding her fire.

"I hope it's not true, but we'll see by the levels in his blood," she said evenly. "And if it is true, he should not play again. Ever."