Following the incident in the Ireland vs France game on the weekend that resulted in Jamie Heaslip leaving the pitch and Pascal Pape being yellow carded, Pape has been banned for 15 weeks (reduced to 10) by the World Rugby Citing commissioner.
The incident saw Heaslip being involved in a choke tackle, and Pape coming in at speed to add his weight to the maul. As he runs in, he lifts his knee and strikes Heaslip in the back, whether it is intentional or not is another question. Referee Wayne Barnes reviewed the incident on the pitch and yellow carded Pape at the time. Heaslip then tried to continue on and play, but it was clear he was struggling. 10 minutes later he was substituted and it didn’t look good for the Ireland and Leinster number 8.
Scans later revealed that Heaslip fractured 3 vertebrae in his back and will require 4 weeks out to recover.
After the match, Pape then proceeded to apologise on Social media, which was accepted fully by Heaslip.
“Truly sorry to have injured Jamie Heaslip with such an action, it was never my intention to do badly toward him.”
The panel ruled the offence was “at the top end of World Rugby’s scale of seriousness” and set his suspension at 15 weeks before lopping off five weeks for “the player’s admission of foul play and his expression of remorse for what had occurred”.
Pape can appeal the ban, but as it stands he will miss the rest of the 6 nations.
Heaslip is set to be out for a month but may be in contention to come back for Irelands’ final game against Scotland in Murrayfield on the 21st March.
Pape’s ban is just another blow for a struggling France side who were defeated by Ireland 18-11 on the weekend. This could be the last nail in the coffin for this current French side.