MUNSTER’S SECOND ROW resources are set to be stretched further after Fineen Wycherley was handed a three-week suspension following his red card in the defeat to Glasgow Warriors.

The Ireland U20 international was shown red by Nigel Owens in the closing stages of last Friday’s Guinness Pro14 clash and was today found guilty of reckless behaviour by a disciplinary panel.

Wycherley led with the shoulder as he attempted to clear out a ruck and the panel concluded that his actions warranted a mid-range sanction point of six weeks, before reducing his punishment to three weeks in light of the mitigating circumstances.

“The red card was shown by referee Nigel Owens under Law 10.4 (a) – Punching or Striking: A player must not strike an opponent with the hand, arm or fist, including the elbow, shoulder, head or knee(s),” a Pro14 statement read.

“Considering the player and the club’s arguments that the action was not intentional and the player’s previous clean record, the panel applied full mitigation of 50 per cent and reduced the ban to three weeks.”

Wycherley will now be unavailable for this weekend’s visit of Cardiff to Thomond Park as well as the interpro clash with Leinster on 7 October and the Champions Cup pool opener away to Castres.

It means Rassie Erasmus now has just three frontline second row options with Darren O’Shea, Gerbrant Groebler and Dave O’Callaghan all long-term absentees while Jean Kleyn saw a specialist on Tuesday after sustaining a neck injury at Scotstoun.

Meanwhile, Edinburgh’s Michele Rizzo has been banned for four weeks after his red card in the round four clash with Scarlets. He’ll miss Friday’s trip to the RDS to face Leinster.

Both players have the right to appeal.

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