Hefty ban could rule loose-head out of Six Nations opener
Leinster prop Jack McGrath is in danger of missing his team’s upcoming Champions Cup matches against Castres and Wasps after he was cited for a stamp on Ireland team-mate Rory Best.
McGrath liberally used his boot to clear the Ulster hooker out of a ruck and was penalised for the offence. No yellow card was shown at the time but Guinness PRO12 laws state that stamping or trampling opponents contravenes their rules.
McGrath will face a citing commission later this week to explain his actions. If a stamp is deemed to be a higher level offence, McGrath could be banned from anything between nine and 52 weeks. Munster’s John Hayes was banned for six weeks, in 2009, for an interprovincial stamp on Leinster’s Cian Healy. In 2013, during the Six Nations, Healy himself was hit with a three-week ban for stamping Dan Cole of England.
It is more likely that the incident will be looked upon as reckless with a two-three week ban imposed. It would mean he misses the Champions Cup but would be free to play for Ireland in the Six Nations.
Many thanks to Balls.ie for the video footage (above).
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