CONNACHT PROP DOMINIC Robertson-McCoy has been handed a six-week ban for stamping on the head of Leinster flanker Josh van der Flier after the disciplinary committee showed leniency and halved his ‘top-end’ sanction.
The New Zealander was introduced as a 68th minute replacement in Saturday’s loss to Leinster at the Sportsground and was red carded in the 69th minute after referee John Lacey viewed the offence on a TMO referral.
Cited under Law 9.12 (which covers physical and verbal abuse) the disciplinary panel in Edinburgh — Kathrine Mackie (chair), Beth Dickens and Robert Milligan – concluded that the offence warranted a top-end sanction, which carries an entry-point of 12 weeks.
From there, the disciplinary panel took into account the Kiwi’s guilty plea, remorse and acknowledgement of his actions and the punishment was reduced by half.
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Post-match on Saturday evening, Van der Flier spoke to the media as man of the match and noted that the prop had twice apologised to him after the full-time whistle.