Munster may appeal Nankivell ban ahead of Bordeaux clash

Jack Crowley of Munster celebrates with Munster players Alex Nankivell and Shane Daly, and former Munster player Simon Zebo after the Investec Champions Cup Round of 16 match between La Rochelle and Munster at Stade Marcel Deflandre in La Rochelle, France. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

Munster are set to make a call on whether to appeal Alex Nankivell’s two-match suspension ahead of their Champions Cup quarter-final in Bordeaux next weekend.

Nankivell was ruled out of the Round of 16 victory at La Rochelle on Saturday after Munster were unable to select him following a late decision on the centre’s red card in the uRC derby win at Connacht.

The New Zealander had been sent off by referee Craig Evans following a ruck clearout of Connacht captain Cian Prendergast. Munster had stated their intent to appeal the red card and are now pondering an appeal against the suspension, which potentially would make Nankivell available to face Union Bordeaux-Begles in France.

“The hearing was only on Wednesday, so a challenging time between the URC hearing and we’d to have that appeal by 12pm on Friday,” interim head coach Ian Costello said in La Rochelle on Saturday night.

“So we’ve a decision to make now as a club, do we appeal that, and we’ll make that decision tomorrow because the appeal will be Monday if it is.” 

Munster’s only injury worry from the bruising 25-24 win at Stade Marcel-Deflandre was loosehead prop Jeremy Loughman, forced off on 12 minutes by a hamstring issue while returning wing Thaakir Abrahams was removed on 54 minutes in his first appearance since mid-December and Costello said he was hopeful the back-three star would be fit to face UBB.

Costello added: “Jeremy came off with his hamstring but we don't know was that cramp or how bad it is. Thaakir came off but that was more because he hadn't played in so long.

“There's lots of straps of ankles and everything else, but that’s maybe just four or five days of recovery.”