Ireland prop Tadhg Furlong has been cleared of grabbing Munster’s Gavin Coombes in the groin by an independent disciplinary committee, making the 33-year-old available for Ireland’s Nations Championship games next month. The panel unanimously dismissed the citing complaint on Thursday.
Tadhg Furlong for Leinster (Credits: BBC Sport)
The allegation arose in the first half of Leinster’s 24-18 win over Munster at the Aviva Stadium, when Munster back-row Coombes raised the complaint with match referee Andrew Brace. Television match official Colin Stanley reviewed the footage but could not find conclusive video evidence of the alleged grab.
Despite the inconclusive TMO review, three-time British and Irish Lions tourist Furlong was subsequently cited for an act of foul play under Law 9.27, which states that “a player must not do anything that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship including but not limited to grabbing, twisting or squeezing the genitals”. The citation put his involvement in Ireland’s upcoming international window in serious doubt.
Disciplinary panel dismisses Furlong citing unanimously
The disciplinary panel — Simon Thomas (Wales), Attie Heyns (South Africa) and Pamela Woodman (Scotland) — met on Thursday and “unanimously concluded the citing complaint against the player should be dismissed, on the basis that he did not commit an act of foul play contrary to Law 9.27”.
Importantly, while dismissing the complaint, the committee also concluded that Coombes had given “an honest account of his recollection of events” surrounding the incident — a finding that stops short of accusing the Munster forward of fabrication while fully clearing Furlong of any wrongdoing.
What Furlong’s clearance means for Ireland
Having avoided a sanction, Furlong, 33, will be available for selection for Ireland’s Nations Championship home matches against Argentina, Fiji and South Africa, plus the finals weekend fixture at Twickenham’s Allianz Stadium. His experience at tighthead prop will be a significant boost for Ireland’s scrum as they head into a demanding November schedule.
The outcome also closes the book on one of the more unusual flashpoints of this season’s United Rugby Championship, with both players now free to move on — Coombes with his honesty intact, and Furlong with his availability intact.
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Source: BBC Sport — read the full story there.
