Ireland’s O’Toole banned for first two Six Nations games

Tom O’Toole, an Ulster prop, will miss Ireland’s first two Six Nations games following his six-game suspension after being red cardted against Munster.

When Ulster lost 22-19 to Kingspan Stadium last month, the 26-year-old was sent off for a risky clearout on Munster center Alex Nankivell.

The United Rugby Championship]URC] ‘s disciplinary process said O’Toole breached Law 9.20e, “a player must not drop their weight on to an opponent or target the lower limbs”.

O’Toole, who featured in three of Ireland’s Autumn Nations Series games, will be suspended for the opener at home to England on 1 February and the away game against Scotland on 9 February.

He won’t play in the province’s final two Investec Champions Cup pool games against Leicester and the Exeter Chiefs because he already missed the trip to Connacht on December 28. This means that he won’t play in any of Ulster’s three games.

Sheriff Mackie, a judicial officer, had originally requested a 10-game suspension for O’Toole’s challenge on Nankivell, which resulted in the Munster center getting a hamstring injury.

In a statement published on their website, the URC explained that O’Toole received 40% mitigation for his “admission of foul play, immediate apology and again post-match”.

However, because O’Toole previously received a red card for “foul play” against Toulouse in 2022, “not all mitigating factors were applied”.

O’Toole would have “a very good chance of being named in the matchday squad,” according to interim head coach Simon Easterby, who had been a “constant member of the Ireland senior squad since debuting in 2021.”

As a result, the URC felt that it was “appropriate” to include Ireland fixtures in the ban.

After the England and Scotland games, Ireland travel to Italy in Rome and face France at home, where they have won three straight Six Nations titles.

On Wednesday, January 15, Easterby will name his Six Nations team as Andy Farrell prepares to lead the British and Irish Lions on their summer tour of Australia.