Max Deegan will miss Leinster’s Champions Cup semi-final against Toulon after receiving a two-match ban for his red card against Ulster.
The back row forward, capped four times by Ireland, was sent off in the 60th minute of Leinster’s 29-21 BKT URC win over Ulster last Friday.
The 29-year-old made contact with Ulster winger Werner Kok in the air and was shown a yellow card by referee Andrew Brace (below), with the colour upgraded to red following an off-field review.
Deegan was handed a four-week ban as the offence was deemed to be ‘low-end’ and the forward received a 50% mitigation due to “his apology, clean record and good conduct throughout the disciplinary process”.
The Dubliner has played 19 games for Leo Cullen’s side this season, including one start and five replacement appearances in the Investec Champions Cup.
He will now be ineligible for Saturday’s visit to Benetton and the following weekend’s European semi-final at Aviva Stadium.
The URC said: “After an act of foul play by player No 20 (Deegan), referee Andrew Brace showed the Player a Red card in the 60th minute of the game under Law 9.17 – A player must not tackle, charge, pull, push or grasp an opponent whose feet are off the ground.
“In the Player’s responses to the Judicial Officer (Achille Reali, Italy) overseeing the disciplinary process, he had accepted that he had committed an act of foul play which warranted a Red Card.
“Mr Reali found that the incident met the Red card threshold, with entry of low-end warranting a four-week suspension.
“The Player received two weeks (50%) mitigation due to his apology, clean record and good conduct throughout the disciplinary process which results in a two-game suspension.”
Kok was unhurt after the challenge
Ireland and Leinster back rows Caelan Doris and Josh van der Flier are to be assessed this week after missing out recently, while Ryan Baird is unavailable.
Scott Penny, Alex Soroka and James Culhane started against Ulster, while Will Connors came off the bench and Jack Conan was rested.
Ireland hooker Dan Sheehan played last 15 minutes of the Champions Cup quarter-final win over Sale in the back row and could be an option.
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