Rugby

Ulster’s Tom O’Toole misses first two Six Nations fixtures following six-game ban

The Ulster prop received a red card against Munster after a dangerous clear-out in the first half

Ulster Rugby's Tom O'Toole tackled by Munster's John Ryan and Fineen Wycherley during their United Rugby Championship match at Kingspan Stadium
Ulster Rugby's Tom O'Toole tackled by Munster's John Ryan and Fineen Wycherley during their United Rugby Championship match at Kingspan Stadium. Picture: Brian Little
By Liam Grimley

IRELAND will have to fare without Ulster forward Tom O’Toole for the England and Scotland Six Nations fixtures after he received a six-game ban for dangerous play against Munster last month.

O’Toole will also miss the next three Ulster games; two European Champions' Cup games against Leicester, Exeter Chiefs and Ulster’s next United Rugby Championship (URC) game against Zebre Palma, having already sat out the inter-pro derby against Connacht on December 28.

Simon Easterby informed the URC that O’Toole had been a constant member of the Ireland Senior squad since his debut in 2021 and that, barring injury or suspension, he would be included in his Six Nations squad and have a very good chance of being named in the matchday squad.

Given these circumstances, the first two Ireland Six Nations games were included.

URC‘s disciplinary process said O’Toole breached Law 9.20e; “a player must not drop their weight onto an opponent or target the lower limbs”.

The incident in question happened in the 31st minute of the URC fixture against Munster on December 20, when O’Toole attempted a clear-out on Munster centre Alex Nankivell.

O’Toole entered into the move from the side with his shoulder and landed his weight on Nankivell’s leg, which injured Nankivell’s hamstring tendons and he was forced to leave the game.

The Drogheda native was sent off and the incident was put before a disciplinary panel.

Ulster's Tom O'Toole is hoping to learn plenty from Ulster's new signing Steven Kitshoff
17-time Ireland international O'Toole will miss the England and Scotland games in this year's Six Nations

17-time Irish international O’Toole managed to avoid a 10-game ban after mitigation as the player had accepted that he had committed an act of foul play which warranted a red card.

The player received four weeks (40 per cent) mitigation for his admission of foul play, immediate apology and again post-match.

However, not all mitigation factors were applied as the Ulster prop received a previous red card for ‘foul play’ against Toulouse in 2022.