Brian O’Driscoll to face citing panel today

BRIAN O’Driscoll’s citing hearing for stamping on Italy’s Simone Favaro will take place in London this morning, RBS Six Nations organisers have confirmed. O’Driscoll was cited following Ireland’s 22-15 defeat in Rome on Saturday.

The independent Six Nations disciplinary committee will be chaired by Robert Williams, sitting with Mike Hamlin and John Doubleday. O’Driscoll was sent to the sin-bin for only the second time in his 14-year professional career in the first half of the match at the Stadio Olimpico. The 34-year-old lifted his right leg and brought it down on to the chest of Favaro, the Italy openside, who yelled out in pain and writhed around on the turf. The act was out of character for O’Driscoll, who has a fine disciplinary record, and was evidence of his frustration as Ireland slumped to a first-ever Six Nations defeat by Italy.