Huge boost for Munster as Alex Nankivell cleared to face Bordeaux-Bègles
BIG BOOST: Munster centre Alex Nankivell. Pic: Ben Brady/Inpho
Alex Nankivell has been cleared to face Bordeaux-Bègles in France on Saturday following a successful Munster appeal against his red card at Connacht.
In a major boost ahead of the Champions Cup quarter-final at Stade Chaban-Delmas, the former Maori All Black has had a two-match suspension overturned by a new independent disciplinary panel convened following Munster’s appeal lodged on Tuesday.
The centre was forced to sit out last Saturday’s European Round of 16 win at La Rochelle under EPCR competition rules, as the ban was in place at the time but the statement from URC means he is available for selection once more and Nankivell is sure to be named in Munster’s matchday squad on Friday.
He had been red-carded by match referee Craig Evans during a URC derby at Castlebar's MacHale Park on March 29. The New Zealander's 25th minute clearout of a jackaling Cian Prendergast had been deemed an act of foul play under Law 9.20a – “A player must not charge into a ruck or maul. Charging includes any contact made without binding onto another player in the ruck or maul.”
The Panel at the initial hearing had found the incident “reckless and met the Red Card threshold under Law 9.20b (A Player must not make contact with an opponent above the line of the shoulders) with entry of low-end warranting a two-game suspension".
The challenge did leave the Connacht skipper needing hospital treatment, though he is on course to return to the starting line-up for his province’s Challenge Cup quarter-final at home to Racing 92 on Saturday if he completes his return to play protocols.
Regardless of the unfortunate outcome, the appeal at the second disciplinary hearing on Wednesday of this week saw a newly-convened independent panel take a different view of Nankivell’s actions.
The URC statement issued on Thursday read: “Munster Rugby's Alex Nankivell is free to play following an appeal by the club which was upheld.
“In the Round 14 BKT URC Connacht v Munster game (Saturday, March 29), the referee Craig Evans showed the Player (Alex Nankivell, No. 12) a Red Card in the 25th minute of the game under Law 9.20a - A Player must not charge into a ruck or maul. Charging includes any contact made without binding onto another player in the ruck or maul.
“Following the original Disciplinary hearing on Wednesday April 2, the Player exercised his right to appeal. An Appeal Panel consisting of Rod McKenzie (Chair, Scotland), Achille Reali (Italy) & Rory Bannerman (Scotland) met Wednesday April 9, to review.
"The appeal was upheld by the Panel and the Player is free to play in Munster Rugby's Investec Champions Cup Quarter Final clash on Saturday April 12.”
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