Ireland's Healy cited for Cole stamp

DUBLIN (AFP) –

England‘s prop Dan Cole (3rd L) goes head to head with Ireland’s lock Donnacha Ryan (2nd R) after an incident with Ireland’s prop Cian Healy (R) during during the Six Nations international rugby union match between Ireland and England at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on February 10, 2013. Healy was cited Monday for stamping on Cole during Sunday’s Six Nations international.

Ireland prop forward Cian Healy was cited Monday for stamping on England front row Dan Cole during Sunday’s Six Nations international at Dublin’s Lansdowne Road.

Healy will now appear before a disciplinary hearing in London on Wednesday and, if the citing is upheld, risks a ban that could rule him out of the rest of the Six Nations after he was charged with contravening Law 10.4 (b) which states “a player must not stamp or trample on an opponent”.

Tempers flared in the 14th minute of England’s 12-6 win when Healy used his boot on Cole’s ankle at a ruck formed following a collapsed maul, sparking a mass brawl.

Match referee Jerome Garces of France took no action at the time, but Healy has since been cited by Italian citing commissioner Alberto Recadini.

A statement released Monday by the Six Nations said: “Cian Healy, the Ireland loosehead prop forward, has been cited by the independent citing commissioner, Alberto Recaldini (Italy), for stamping on an opponent in the RBS 6 Nations match between Ireland and England at the Aviva Stadium on Sunday.

“The alleged act of foul play is contrary to Law 10.4 (b).

“The player’s hearing, before an independent Six Nations disciplinary committee appointed by Professor Lorne Crerar, chairman of the Six Nations disciplinary panel, will be held in London on Wednesday 13 February 2013.”

The recommended suspension for a low end stamping offence is two weeks, the mid-range five weeks and the top end nine weeks, up to a maximum of a year.

It is hard to see how Healy, a candidate for the British and Irish Lions tour of Australia later this year, can escape some sort of punishment especially as television replays show him clearly stamping on Cole.

A fortnight’s ban would rule Healy out of Ireland’s next Six Nations match, away to Scotland on February 24, while a lengthier suspension could also see him miss the fixtures with France and Italy.

England’s victory left them top of the table with Stuart Lancaster’s side the only team in this season’s tournament boasting a 100 percent record after the opening two rounds.

Ireland are one of four sides with two points following a first round win away to champions Wales.