Irish hooker banned

Irish hooker Jerry Flannery has received a six week ban for kicking France’s Alexis Palisson in last Saturday’s match.

The ban means the Munster player will miss the rest of the Six Nations tournament.

Flannery received the ban after attending an independent disciplinary hearing in Dublin on Wednesday.

During Saturday’s match, referee Wayne Barnes only awarded a penalty following the incident. Touch judge Stuart Terheege believed the challenge to be a shoulder charge, allowing the hooker to escape a red card.

Reckless

Flannery pleaded guilty to kicking the French winger and acknowledged the action had deserved a red card.

The offence forced Palisson from the field with a dead leg, but the disciplinary panel found the offence had been reckless rather than deliberate.

Flannery’s ban means the Ulster hooker Rory Best is now in line to start for Ireland’s remaining Six Nations fixtures.

Ireland's next match is against England on February 27.