Wexford Echo — Keith Earls in danger of missing Ireland’s games against the All Blacks

Tuesday, October 25, 2016

Keith Earls is in danger of missing most of the Autumn Test series after being called to face a disciplinary hearing in London.

It’s in relation to the straight red card he received last Saturday in Munster’s Champions Cup win over Glasgow.

If Earls is found guilty of dangerous play he could be suspended for four weeks, which would rule him out of both tests against New Zealand and the game against Canada.

Keith Earls of Munster speaks to Fraser Brown of Glasgow as he leaves the pitch having been shown a red card at Thomond Park. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Mike Hamlin (England), Chairman, Roddy Dunlop QC (Scotland) and Andrea Caranci (Italy) have been appointed as the independent Disciplinary Committee for the hearing.

The relevant dangerous tackling law is as follows:

“Under World Rugby’s Sanctions for Foul Play, Law 10.4 (j), Lifting a player from the ground and either dropping or driving that player’s head and/or upper body into the ground while the player’s feet are off the ground, carries the following sanction entry points – Low End: 4 weeks; Mid-Range: 8 weeks; Top End: 12 to 52 weeks.”