No early Christmas present for O’Connell as ban is upheld

MUNSTER skipper Paul O’Connell received bad news yesterday, as a European Rugby Cup (ERC) appeals committee decided a four-week ban was just reward for the red card he sustained in the Heineken Cup win over the Ospreys earlier this month.

In the urgency of a pre-Christmas appeal, O’Connell sat and argued his case alongside legal representative Donal Spring and his Munster team manager Shaun Payne in a conference meeting.

The ban stands however, and O’Connell, though still free to play for Munster in the Heineken Cup clash against Toulon next month, won’t be given the opportunity for game time before that fixture.