Cian Healy is free to play for Leinster against Toulon on Saturday evening due to a clerical error.
The Ireland front row received a two-week ban after an incident in the province’s Champions Cup defeat to Toulon last Sunday.
He was cleared of the charge of ‘striking with the knee’ but received the ban for ‘dangerous charging or obstructing or grabbing of an opponent without the ball, including shouldering' during last weekend's loss to the French side.
Leinster appealed that on the grounds that their player was charged for an offence that he wasn't cited for. Since that appeal can't be heard before the clash at the Aviva - a written decision of the judicial officer Roger Morris has not yet been submitted - Healy is free to play.
It's the final twist in what had become a bit of a saga for Healy; he was originally named as a replacement on the team sheet before the province released a statement to say he'd been included by accident.
Healy will start on the bench wearing number 17.
A statement from the EPCR on Friday read: “The Leinster Rugby player, Cian Healy, has lodged an appeal against the two-week suspension imposed on him at an independent Disciplinary Hearing as a result of a citing complaint following his club’s European Rugby Champions Cup Round 3 match against RC Toulon on Sunday, 13 December 2015."
“The independent Judicial Officer at the hearing found that Healy had committed an act of foul play during the match in contravention of Law 10.4 (f) – Dangerous charging or obstructing or grabbing of an opponent without the ball, including shouldering.
“As a written decision of the Judicial Officer is not available, it has not yet been possible to hear the player’s appeal nor set a date for the appeal.
“Pending the outcome of the appeal hearing, Healy filed an application to the independent Appeal Committee to have his suspension lifted.
“The independent Appeal Committee consisting of Professor Lorne Crerar (Scotland), Chairman, Rod McKenzie (Scotland) and Roddy Dunlop QC (Scotland) met today (Friday, 18 December 2015) and allowed Healy’s application to have his suspension lifted.
“The player is therefore free to play until the outcome of his appeal.”
