Healy wins appeal to play France

Cian Healy will be available to face France on March 9 for the next round of the RBS Six Nations after winning an appeal against the timing of his recent ban.
The Irish prop was suspended for three weeks for stamping on England’s Dan Cole during Ireland’s 12-6 defeat in Dublin earlier this month but disciplinary chiefs extended the period of suspension to four weeks due a to the fact that a rest week in the Championship would mean he missed only one match in Scotland last week.
However, Healy argued his ban should have started on the date of the incident (February 10) with his representatives also stressing their belief that Ireland‘s player welfare system was being unfairly punished by the first decision.
Tournament officials confirmed he has won his case and as a result his suspension will expire at midnight on March 3.
A statement read: “The player had argued, among other things, that by extending the three-week suspension over four weekends (to take account of the first break weekend in the RBS 6 Nations Championship) was not permissible under the relevant regulations.”
Watch the video of the incident below.