Banned.

Peter O’Mahony appeared before an independent disciplinary committee, comprised of Mike Hamlin (England), Frank Hadden (Scotland) and Val Toma (Romania), via video conference today.

The Ireland flanker received a red card during the Wales v Ireland match on 7 February 2021 at the Principality Stadium, Cardiff for an infringement of Law 9.20 (a) and (b) (Dangerous play in a ruck or maul) in the 13th minute of the match.

O’Mahony admitted the act of dangerous play in a ruck and that the offending merited a red card. He did not seek to challenge the referee’s decision. The committee considered all the relevant evidence, including the player’s oral evidence, together with the clips of the incident.

In assessing the seriousness of the offending, the committee found that the offending was reckless. They were satisfied that the player’s conduct breached World Rugby Law 9.20(a), in that he charged into a ruck.

Charging includes any contact made without binding onto another player in the ruck or maul. The Committee noted that the offending involved reckless contact with the head of the Wales No 3.

As the conduct involved contact with the head, although noting that no injury was suffered by the Wales No.3, the committee determined that the entry point was mid-range, which for this offence is six weeks.

It was accepted that there were no off-field aggravating factors, and the disciplinary committee concluded after careful consideration of the player’s record and conduct in the hearing, that the player was entitled to a 50% reduction of sanction in mitigation.

O’Mahony is suspended from 7th February 2021 to 14th March 2021, which represents three meaningful matches. He is free to play again on 15th March 2021