Ireland's O'Toole banned for first two Six Nations games

Ulster prop Tom O'Toole will miss Ireland's first two Six Nations games after receiving a six-game ban following his red card against Munster.

The 26-year-old was sent off for a dangerous clear-out on Munster centre Alex Nankivell during Ulster's 22-19 defeat at Kingspan Stadium last month.

The United Rugby Championship [URC]'s disciplinary process said O'Toole breached Law 9.20e; "a player must not drop their weight onto an opponent or target the lower limbs".

O'Toole, who featured in three of Ireland's Autumn Nations Series games, will be suspended for the opener at home to England on 1 February and the away game against Scotland on 9 February.

He will also miss three Ulster games after already sitting out the trip to Connacht on 28 December, meaning he will play no part in the province's final two Investec Champions Cup pool games against Leicester and Exeter Chiefs.

He will also miss the URC encounter against Zebre at the end of January.

Judicial officer Sheriff Mackie had originally requested a 10-game ban for O'Toole's challenge on Nankivell, which resulted in the Munster centre suffering a hamstring injury.

In a statement published on their website, the URC explained that O'Toole received 40% mitigation for his "admission of foul play, immediate apology and again post-match".

However, due to O'Toole previously receiving a red card for "foul play" against Toulouse in 2022, "not all mitigating factors were applied".

Interim head coach Simon Easterby said in the URC's statement that O'Toole would have "barring injury or suspension, a very good chance of being named in the match-day squad" as he had been "a constant member of the Ireland senior squad since debut in 2021".

As a result, the URC felt that it was "appropriate" to include Ireland fixtures in the ban.

After the England and Scotland games, Ireland, who are aiming to win a third successive Six Nations title, face Wales away, France at home before finishing the campaign against Italy in Rome.

Easterby, who takes interim charge of Ireland as Andy Farrell prepares to lead the British and Irish Lions in their tour of Australia in the summer, will name his Six Nations squad on Wednesday 15 January.