Tadhg Beirne has been cleared to play in Ireland's Quilter Nations Series clash with Japan on Saturday (Live on RTÉ2/Player) after a disciplinary hearing on Tuesday night saw the red card he incurred against the All Blacks rescinded.
The Munster second row was initially given a yellow card, with a bunker review, in last Saturday's 26-13 defeat to New Zealand at Chicago's Soldier Field, after an upright challenge on All Blacks out-half Beaden Barrett in the third minute of the game.
Foul-play-review officer Dan Jones from England later informed referee Pierre Brousset that the challenge warranted a red card, which meant Ireland had to play 20 minutes with 14 players, until Beirne could be replaced.
Barrett had sympathised with Beirne after the game, saying that "he didn't intentionally put a shoulder on me" and that he was "gutted" for him.
However, after appearing before a three-man independent disciplinary committee chaired by Christopher Quinlan KC, Beirne's actions were deemed not have met the threshold for a red card.
"Having considered the player's and other evidence and reviewed the footage, the Disciplinary Committee accepted the player’s submissions that whilst an act of foul play had occurred, it did not meet the red card threshold," a statement read.
"The 20-minute Red Card was thus rescinded. As a result, the Player is now free to play and available for selection this weekend."
Watch Ireland v Japan in the Quilter Nations Series on Saturday from 12pm on RTÉ2 and the RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on the RTÉ News App and on rte.ie/sport. Listen to live commentary on RTÉ Radio 1 Extra
