Brian O’Driscoll handed 3 week ban for Italy stamp

An independent Six Nations disciplinary committee convened in London yesterday decided the offence was in the mid-range of severity, but deducted two weeks on account of his “exemplary previous playing and disciplinary record”.

The 34-year-old will miss Leinster’s Amlin Challenge Cup quarter-final against Wasps on 5 April but his ban expires three days later, making him available for the latter stages of the RaboDirect PRO12 title push.

O’Driscoll, playing in what is thought to have been his 125th and final Test for Ireland, was sent to the sin-bin for only the second time in his 14-year professional career in the 22-15 loss 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.

At yesterday’s hearing, the 2005 Lions captain admitted he had committed an act of foul play but denied it warranted a red card.

The disciplinary committee, chaired by Robert Williams of Wales, however, upheld the citing complaint and decided the offence should have been punished with a sending-off.

A statement released by tournament organisers read: “In applying the sanction, it was considered that the stamp, contrary to Law 10.4(b), was in the mid range of the IRB’s sanctions for the type of offence.

“After hearing from Brian O’Driscoll and his representatives, a reduction of two weeks of mitigation was allowed, particularly taking into account the player’s exemplary previous playing and disciplinary record.

“Brian O’Driscoll is suspended until 8 April 2013 and has the right of appeal.”

The act was out of character for O’Driscoll and was evidence of his frustration, as Ireland slumped to a first Six Nations defeat by Italy and their worst championship performance since 1999.

If Saturday’s encounter in Rome is to be his final Ireland cap, a yellow card and dismal loss is not the way the finest player his country has produced would have liked to have bowed out. O’Driscoll’s contract expires in the summer and while publicly he has stated he is undecided over his future, it is thought that in private he views the forthcoming British & Irish Lions tour as his farewell.

It will be his fourth tour with the Lions, and a Test series victory over Australia would offer a fitting farewell for one of the game’s greatest players.

The attrition rate of recent matches has taken its toll – against France he was concussed and sustained a lacerated ear and dead leg – while ankle surgery forced him to miss the autumn.

No citing for Michalak over Hogg scuffle

The Scottish Rugby Union expects France stand-off Frederic Michalak to escape punishment for his fracas with full-back Stuart Hogg in Saturday’s final RBS Six Nations fixture at the Stade de France, which Scotland lost 23-16.

The second period was only three minutes old when Michalak, who kicked 11 points for France, clashed with Hogg.

The Scot seemed to be moving away and back to position when the Frenchman appeared to throw some punches in the direction of the Scotland and Glasgow No 15, and there was some ugly grappling, but Welsh referee Nigel Owens let both players off with a warning at the time.

And the SRU now says that Toulon man Michalak will avoid further censure after the deadline for him to be cited by the Six Nations disciplinary panel passed without the incident being raised.

An SRU spokesman said: “The Six Nations appoints independent citing commissioners to oversee discipline matters at Six Nations games.

“Citing therefore is a matter for that independent commissioner, who has 48 hours from the end of a match in which to cite.

“As that period has elapsed it would appear there is no citing from the France v Scotland game.”