Appeals panel reduces Hayes ban by seven days

A MEETING of an IRFU disciplinary panel in Dublin last night sat for about three hours before reducing the six-week ban imposed last week on Munster prop John Hayes by seven days.

The fact it took the panel so long to come to their decision strongly suggests they agreed with the disciplinary panel and Munster’s contention that Hayes was not guilty of any intentional act. However, the appeals panel stated that the “mitigation was based upon the record of the player” which was without blemish prior to the incident.

In the final analysis, the change won’t mean a whole lot given that for the second successive week, the 94-times capped Hayes will miss a Heineken Cup match although the ban now ends eight days before the first of Ireland’s three autumn Test matches against Australia.