Banned Hayes to miss vital Euro clashes

JOHN HAYES will miss Munster’s Heineken Cup matches against Northampton and Treviso over the next two weeks after being a handed a six-week suspension last night by an IRFU disciplinary committee.

However he will be available for the first of Ireland’s autumn internationals, starting with the game against Australia on Sunday, November 15.

The ban was imposed arising from his dismissal in the second half of last Saturday’s Magners League match against Leinster at the RDS.

It ends on Saturday, November 14 – the day before Ireland play Australia at Croke Park.

The IRFU last night issued the following statement: “An Irish Rugby Football Union Disciplinary Panel held a hearing today to consider the red card issued to Munster player John Hayes during the Leinster v Munster Magners League game on Saturday, October 3, 2009.

“John Hayes received a red card under law 10.4 (b) for a stamp on Leinster player Cian Healy in the 54th minute of the game.

“Having studied the match footage and heard all available evidence, the disciplinary panel confirmed that the offence constituted a high-end entry level in terms of sanctions.

“Having considered all mitigating factors, the panel imposed a six-week suspension from the date of the offence on Saturday, October 3 up to and including Saturday, November 14. The player has the right to appeal.’’

Hayes attended the hearing, along with Munster manager Shaun Payne and solicitor Donal Spring.

The delegation argued that while Hayes regretted the incident, he had acted without intent and that it was totally accidental.

It has emerged that while the disciplinary panel accepted the player’s bona fides in this regard, they still believed the offence was at the higher level which allows for a ban of nine weeks up to a maximum of 52 weeks.

Bearing in mind Hayes’s impeccable record in a long and distinguished career that has seen him earn a record 94 caps for his country and represent Munster on 78 occasions in the Heineken Cup, they reduced the suspension by three weeks.

No decision will be made on the right to appeal until Munster receive the written copy of the decision over the next few days.

“John regrets the incident happened at all,’’ said Shaun Payne in a statement last night. “He has a long and unblemished professional rugby career spanning 12 seasons and would not be regarded by anybody including opponents as being a dirty player.

“He is very disappointed with the sanction, given that the committee accepted the action wasn’t intentional.’’