'A tough process' - what happens after a red card in rugby?

Ireland centre Garry Ringrose helped set a Six Nations record against Wales - just not one he would have wanted.

The 30-year-old's tackle on Ben Thomas meant Ireland were the first team to feel the impact of the 20-minute red card in the Six Nations.

While Romain Ntamack was sent off following a bunker review in France's opener with Wales, the new rule did not have an impact as his tackle, also on Welsh back Thomas, took place with 11 minutes remaining.

The 20-minute red card is a new rule introduced by World Rugby that allows the offending team to replace the red carded player after 20 minutes of being reduced to 14 players.

When returned to their full complement, Ireland edged past Wales. Ringrose, however, was handed a three-match suspension after a disciplinary hearing, reduced to two if he completed World Rugby's Coaching Intervention Programme - better know as 'tackle school'.

With Leinster's match against Cardiff included in the ban, Ringrose sat out Ireland's defeat by France and, speaking ahead of his return to the Ireland set-up, he opened up on what it is like to go through rugby's disciplinary process.

"It was a tough and tricky process to go through," said Ringrose.

"But it was a good learning curve. I'm motivated and excited to attack the week."

Looking to secure the Triple Crown and keep their title charge alive, Ireland had been expected to breeze past a Wales side on a record losing streak, but revitalised by interim coach Matt Sherratt, the hosts were taking it to the title challengers.

Then, in the 32nd minute, the game changed when Ringrose flew into a tackle.

Play continued, but referee Christophe Ridley was called to look at the incident by the Television Match Official (TMO).

After a bunker review, where a TMO referee reviews the incident which takes pressure off the match officials, Ringrose's yellow was upgraded to a 20-minute red card, ending his involvement. .

When Bundee Aki was introduced off the bench in place of Ringrose, Ireland were able to use their full complement to power to victory.

"The incident itself, there was no malice or intent behind it," Ringrose said.

"You don't want to put your team-mates in that position. It's a tough thing for them to go through against any opposition, being a man down for 20 minutes."

Ringrose said it was a surreal experience sitting at the side of the pitch as he waited to hear if his yellow card would be upgraded.

"You're waiting to hear the bunker. You know it's a possibility (it could be upgraded).

"I was a little bit surprised. I wasn't looking at the big screen at the time, but when you look back at it some angles don't look great. There's then an element of realism about it."

Following the game, Ringrose was called to a disciplinary hearing about the tackle.

His tackle was deemed a mid-range incident, with an entry point of a six-match ban, but it was halved because his previous good disciplinary record, guilty plea, good conduct in the hearing and remorse at the incident.

The fact the Leinster game was included in the ban, therefore allowing him to play for Ireland against Italy if he completed tackle school, was criticised by some but Ringrose said he "wasn't paying any attention to any outside noise".

"At the time, I thought it was going to be a yellow card, but reviewing it and going back through the disciplinary process I was pretty keen to admit that it was an act of foul play and it was something that happened that you don't want to happen," Ringrose admitted.

"I kind of made my points and explained exactly what was going though my head in the two or three seconds to the panel with some of the mitigating factors.

"It was probably an intimating thing, but when it came to the conversation they were quite open in hearing my perspective as a player.

"I was just open and honest as to exactly I thought happened. They took that on board but they ultimately decided it should have been the red card.

"I said it was completely fair enough. There was no bad blood from my perspective. They only want what's best for the game and I'll be on board from that."

Ringrose was able to train to help his Ireland team-mates prepare for their penultimate match with France, participating in video analysis sessions and working with the match day squad, before he undertook his tackle school after sessions.

He said it was "an interesting process to go through" and he worked closely with assistant coach Andrew Goodman, himself a former centre, as they broke down the incident into segments.

His Leinster team-mates Ciaran Frawley and Tommy O'Brien were also on hand to help with drills.

"I was breaking it down in different elements, what I perceived what I could do better and what Goody (Goodman) thinks I could have done better," he said.

"You are going back over the incident and they designed little drills to break down the incident a bit into segments.

"That evolved into re-enacting, effectively, what happened and being acutely aware of what I can do differently in that situation," he added.

"I was on the pitch doing it, to try and anticipate what I didn't anticipate on the day in Cardiff to make sure something like that doesn't happen again."

Every session in tackle school was captured on video throughout the week to be reviewed by World Rugby, and Ringrose got the green light to return against Italy.

"They were happy with the work that was put in by myself and the coaches to try and right the wrong.

"[You] explain why you are doing the drill, what you are hoping to achieve and what you are hoping to work on for each different element of it."

After Ireland's Six Nations title aspirations took a blow as France ran out dominant winners, Ringrose is set to return in Irish colours in Rome on Saturday after serving his suspension.

He says "it's the nature of the beast" that collisions happen in rugby but believes he has learnt his lesson in tackle school.

"It's split-second decisions in high pressure moments, so it's about trying to react as best as I can going forward.

"It's something that will always be with me to try and ensure it doesn't happen again."