Cian Healy free to play against Munster but faces another hearing

Leinster prop Cian Healy has successfully appealed a two-week ban imposed on him last week but could still be hit with a suspension.

Healy was cited over a clash with Toulon hooker Guilhem Guirado during a European Champions Cup match on December 13.

An initial charge of striking with the knee was amended by the judicial officer Roger Morris to “Dangerous charging or obstructing or grabbing of an opponent without the ball, including shouldering”, in breach of Law 10.4 (f) and (k) of World Rugby’s regulations.

Leinster and the player have successfully appealed against the sanction for the amended charge and he is now free to play against Munster in the PRO12 derby on Sunday December 27.

However that will not be the end of the matter. The appeal committee have ruled that the original charge – ‘striking with the knee’ should be reheard at a yet to be decided date in the future.