CONNACHT’S ABRAHAM PAPALI’I will miss the opening rounds of the Heineken Champions Cup and the first of the festive interpros after he was handed a five-week ban.
Papali’i was sent off during the second half of the Guinness Pro14 win over Zebre on Sunday for leading with his head in this tackle on Tommaso Boni.
RED CARD:
— eir Sport (@eirSport) November 22, 2020
56 mins:
Zebre 7-33 Connacht
Connacht's Abraham Papali'i is shown a red card for a head-high challenge on Tommaso Boni.#ZEBvCON #GuinnessPRO14 pic.twitter.com/gVV68XLYjR
Connacht head coach Andy Friend described it as “a harsh red card” and indicated that the province would contest the decision at yesterday’s disciplinary hearing.
But the three-man disciplinary panel ruled that the collision justified a red card and was a mid-range offence, which carries an entry point of a six-week suspension.
The ban was reduced by a week in light of Papali’i's cooperation and remorse, leaving him free to play again from midnight on December 28.
The flanker will miss four games starting with Ospreys’ visit to the Sportsground tomorrow evening, as well the European games against Racing 92 and Bristol Bears and the post-Christmas interpro against Ulster on 27 December.
Bernard Jackman, Murray Kinsella and Gavan Casey pick up the pieces — all of them — after Ireland’s Twickenham defeat:
The42 Rugby Weekly / SoundCloud
New presenter from the inner circle no doubt.
@Jeff Nolan: Surprised you’re interested at all in things GAA when you’re flying the colours of a foreign football team from a foreign country. “Inner circle”….. Give us a break!!!! Can’t understand people getting off on conspiracy theories!!
@Jerriko17: it is possible to follow a number of different sports!!!!
@Vinnie Cooney: Jeeeez.. That never occurred to me!!! Maybe RTE should appoint someone from MOTD to keep ye happy!!!
@Jerriko17: more than one sport out there. Expand your horizons.
@Jeff Nolan: never heard of him
@Jeff Nolan: Duh… I know there’s lots of sports!!!! I also know that most RTEs sports reporters, presenters and journalists served their time in other radio/tv stations, newspapers etc, , national and local. Its a grand number, granted, and probably why it generates all the begrudgery!!!…. same applies to most TV and radio stations but “Inner circle” conspiracy theories is a load of tosh!!!! Imo!! & no, I or anyone I know doesn’t work there!!!
Sad day for the parish. I’m going to miss his insightful commentary.
@Keith Duffy: what now
@Garreth mc mahon: ??
Yeah fair play.. time for a change
Rte gave this news to me as a breaking news notification on my phone. I thought he had died when it came up. But anyway…….it will be sad to see leave.
@Claire King: turn off notifications so
Hope he doesn’t forget to bring his hair dye
Joanne is good. She got a bit of grief when she started which was unfair but she has really grown into the role.
@Sean: agh come on ,no need for that sacrism here.
She tries her best.
Be good if it was Damien Lawler.
Anyone but JC
@Peter Roche: he played well for Portumna the weekend though?!
Don’t want to be loading the place up with too many Kerry lads, but Dara O Cinneide would be my choice. Proven host on TG4 and actually knows what he’s on about
@Summer Bay Devil: agree with you., he’s very good but wouldnt want to see him leave tg4
Sunday nights loss,Saturday and Sunday afternoon’s gain. Great reporter on a lot of sports
Wonder what female presenter is gonna take over for him….
Give it to Dalo. Be craic then for sure
@Sean Nihill: I think Dalos analysis is brilliant so I don’t think the presenting chair would suit him as you wouldn’t get much in the way of analysis as he’ll only be asking questions of other pundits. Anyway he has a busy pub to run :)
@Joe Markham: like wen they had spillane presenting the show in the 90s. Good pundit, not a good presenter.
Sean O Rourke is being lined up
Anna Geary or Ursula Jacob for sure