The ban, as it stands, will prevent Hayes from playing in Munster’s opening two fixtures in the Heineken Cup as well as two fixtures in the Magners League.
Hayes was red-carded in the 54th minute of Munster’s Magners League tie with Leinster at the RDS on Saturday following a stamp on prop Cian Healy.
An IRFU statement issued last night read: “Having studied the match footage and heard all available evidence, the three-man IRFU disciplinary panel of chairman Hugh Logan, assisted by Stephen Hilditch and Neil Jackson, confirmed that the offence constituted a high end entry level in terms of sanctions.
“Having also considered all mitigating factors, the panel imposed a six-week suspension from the date of the offence on Saturday, October 3 up to and including Saturday, November 14.”
Cappamore man Hayes attended the hearing held in Ravenhill accompanied by team manager Shaun Payne and legal advisor Donal Spring.
Afterwards, in a statement issued through team manager Payne, Hayes expressed his disappointment with the decision.
Payne’s statement read: “John (Hayes) regrets the incident happened at all.
“He has a long and unblemished professional rugby career spanning twelve seasons and would not be regarded by anybody including opponents as being a dirty player.
“He is very disappointed with the sanction, given that the committee accepted the action wasn’t intentional yet decided the entry point for the offence to be at the higher range, the nine weeks reduced to six in mitigation.”
Hayes has had an impeccable disciplinary record through a long and distinguished career which has seen him play more than 300 games for Bruff, Shannon, Munster, Ireland and the Lions.
The six-week suspension will result in John Hayes missing four games for Munster, the two opening round Heineken Cup pool matches away to Northampton on Saturday and at home to Benetton Treviso a week later. Thirty-five-year-old Hayes will also be unavailable for the away Magners League game against Edinburgh on October 23 and the home game against Ulster eight days later. John Hayes’ suspension is due to end on Saturday November 14, the day before Ireland play their first fixture in the autumn international series against Australia.
Munster will wait until they have received the written copy of the decision before deciding whether or not to appeal.
Munster’s sole focus now will be on Saturday’s opening round Heineken Cup Pool 1 clash away to the Northampton Saints at Franklin’s Gardens (6pm).
Coach Tony McGahan will be looking for a big response from his players in the wake of their embarrassing 30-point defeat to Leinster in the Magners League last weekend. Munster’s first round opponent Northampton also come into Saturday’s tie on the back of a loss.
The Saints went under to London Wasps in the English Guinness Premiership.
With captain Paul O’Connell, Jerry Flannery and David Wallace successfully coming through their first appearances of the season on Saturday, it seems certain that coach McGahan will make several changes to his starting line-up for the tie with Northampton.
Back-row forwards Denis Leamy and Alan Quinlan are also available to play having recovered from minor injuries.
COLM KINSELLA
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