Davies handed seven-week ban
Getty Images
Bradley Davies received a yellow card at the time
Wales second-row Bradley Davies has been handed a seven-week ban for his tip-tackle on Ireland's Donnacha Ryan.
Davies' suspension, announced by Six Nations organisers after a disciplinary hearing in London today, comes following his citing for a reckless tip-tackle on Ireland replacement Donncha Ryan during last Sunday's clash in Dublin.
The Cardiff Blues forward, who has a right of appeal, cannot play again until March 26 - nine days after the tournament finishes.
A three-man disciplinary panel decided that Davies' offence merited a top-end entry point of a 10-week ban, with an additional two weeks applied for this type of foul play. But mitigating factors - Davies' guilty plea, his previously good disciplinary record and his conduct at the hearing - saw a maximum reduction to the punishment of five weeks imposed.
Davies, 25, was cited by match commissioner, Italian Achille Reali, following the second-half incident at the Aviva Stadium. Referee Wayne Barnes brandished a yellow card on the recommendation of his assistant Dave Pearson, but television replays revealed the full extent of Davies' actions, which should have undoubtedly warranted a straight red.
Even Wales coach Warren Gatland admitted that Davies was fortunate to avoid being sent off, so his ban should come as no surprise to a Welsh camp currently preparing for next Sunday's Six Nations appointment with Scotland in Cardiff.
The Six Nations disciplinary committee, chaired by Antony Davies (England) along with John Doubleday (England) and Jean-Noel Couraud (France), considered the citing report, television footage and listened to Davies' explanation.
In a statement, the Six Nations said: "They (the committee) found that the incident in which the player lifted his opponent beyond a horizontal position but did not bring him to the ground safely contrary to Law 10.4(j) and the IRB's (International Rugby Board's) particular emphasis on this aspect of the game, merited a top end entry to the IRB's table of sanctions.
"The committee applied an additional two weeks to the entry point of 10 weeks to reflect the need for a deterrent for this type of foul play. But, in mitigation, took account of various factors in the player's favour, including his admission of guilt, his previous good disciplinary record and his conduct at the hearing in allowing the maximum possible reduction of five weeks.
"Bradley Davies can resume playing on 26 March 2012, and has the right of appeal."
Davies, who has won 33 caps and made his Test debut against Scotland in 2009, will be available for Cardiff Blues' Heineken Cup quarter-final against holders Leinster on April 7. But that will be of little comfort to him at the moment as he reflects on an episode that could easily have cost Wales victory in Dublin.
His absence also hands Gatland a second-row selection poser, with Davies now joining his fellow World Cup locks Alun-Wyn Jones and Luke Charteris on the sidelines. Charteris and Jones are both injured, although Jones' could recover fitness from a toe injury to play some part in this season's Six Nations, which points to Ryan Jones being handed the number four shirt against Scotland.
Jones, who starred at blindside flanker against Ireland, has played lock for his regional team the Ospreys this season, and would be the obvious replacement for Davies, although Gatland also has uncapped Scarlets second-row Lou Reed in the Six Nations squad. Davies is the second Wales player to be suspended for a tip-tackle this season following skipper Sam Warburton's dismissal during the World Cup last autumn.
Warburton was red-carded by Irish official Alain Rolland for a tackle on France wing Vincent Clerc during the World Cup semi-final in Auckland, an offence that saw him receive a three-week ban.
For more on Rugby, visit ESPNscrum.com
How the Welsh can look at themselves in the mirror..... They won on Sunday in the same manner as they seem to need to win - the 16th player on their team - either not applying the rules and allowing the wrong ball to be used for quick line outs, or being overly lenient with Jones and over reacted to Ferris - if anyone also deserves to account for themselves the referee should be there. - this is a proffessional game and high stakes so the level of referreeing should be higher and when wrong sanctions taken.
The English team were lampooned for ill displine off the pitch - the Welsh are reflecting this on the pitch and getting away with it!!!
1st mc or whoever you are Wales are no cheats and neither are any of the other nations
rugby is a hard contact sport and tempers to flare up from time to time
yes it was a bad tackle no getting away from that ,but before the tackle did you see what ryan did when he charged the ruck in the way that he did ? the ref should of blown for a wales penalty, but he didn't and Davies lost his rag as humans do from time to time , not that im defending the tackle as that is not defendable but ryan made Davies act in that way im afraid
Wales to still win six nations by a mile
its,s tough on bradley,but himself and other players must learn now,you just cant make this type of tackle and hope to get away with it,someone is going to be seriously hurt or paralysed through a tackle such as this loves wales through and through,but i cant condone it on any player,be he english,welsh,scots or any other nationality,its wrong,and it has to be stopped and stopped now.
first of all it has to be the player who understands its wrong,and then the refs,they should all be outlined with guidelines before any match about the actions and results of tackles as such. there should be no complaints,lift a man off the floor,and throw him down,you should be sent off and banned. the ireland players tackle wasn't,nt as bad as bradley,however to stop this kind of tackle in the game,you have to rule it as the same and deal with it.
Totally agree Jimbo! The fuds that think Rugby fans are ANYTHING like rugby fans need their head seeing to! Don't see many fight at a rugby game (apart from on the park) and that's with the fans all together. You even see them clapping when the other team score a try! Christopher lock you post is a JOKE mate now go get a life!
He did deserve it but so did the Irish. Best game of the 6 nations so far! Best 2 teams i would say.
Wow, anyone would think this was a football post... Don't you dare do the same to rugby! This IS a contact sport! Lets keep it this way...
I didn't see the tackle live but i've seen it since, and yes its a definite red card. Unfortunately for Bradley and Wales. Its not close to a 50-50 the guy is almost on his head, so its dangerous play.
Coming from rugby myself, I can say that as bad as it looks, sometimes its inevitable that when you have a tall guy picking a smaller guy up by his legs he's going to fall on his head or neck. **** happens. Its not nice, but this is another side to the sport.
I lost a close friend to a broken neck on the pitch, its never intentional. Lets not forget that contact sports are tough, and injuries can and will happen.
I'm sure Bradley Davies didn't intentionally dump him right on his head.
