O'Connell handed four-week ban

Paul O'Connell has been handed a four-week ban by the ERC independent disciplinary committee for his strike on Johnathan Thomas during last week's 22-16 win over the Ospreys at Thomond Park.

Paul O'Connell has today been handed a four-week ban by the ERC independent disciplinary committee for his strike on Johnathan Thomas during last week's 22-16 win over the Ospreys at Thomond Park.

The hearing was held this morning in Dublin.

The red card was issued to O'Connell in the 69th minute of the second-half by referee Christophe Berdos (France) for striking Thomas (No 8) in contravention of Law 10.4 (a).

O’Connell had come on for Munster on the hour mark as a replacement for Mick O’Driscoll, but left the field in less than 10 minutes later after appearing to strike the Ospreys backrower with his elbow in an off-the-ball incident.

The former Lions captain was making only his second competitive appearance for Munster having battled back from a groin injury than had kept him out of action since March of this year.

The ban effectively rules O’Connell out of any competitive rugby till the middle of January.

He will miss this weekend’s crucial fourth round Heineken Cup game with the Ospreys at the Liberty Stadium as well as Munster’s Magners League meeting with Connacht in Galway on St Stephen's Day as well as fixtures against Ulster and Glasgow Warriors at the beginning of January.

O’Connell may be available for Munster’s penultimate Heineken Cup pool games against Toulon (away) and London Irish (home), but the Young Munster lock will be severely short on game time.

The news will be most unwelcome to Declan Kidney considering that Ireland’s opening Six Nations, against Italy in Rome, takes place on February 5 and the Irish coach faces the prospect of facing into the tournament with a key player low on match fitness.

The Munster management have expressed their disappointment with the decision and will wait until receiving written judgment before deciding whether or not to appeal.