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PRO 14IrelandUlster

Schmidt gets lock disciplinary hearing boost

Ireland lock Iain Henderson is free to play (Photo: Getty Images)

Iain Henderson has been given the green light to keep competing for an Ireland match-day recall this weekend after his PRO14 citing failed the red card test at a disciplinary hearing.

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The Ulster lock was included on Tuesday morning in Joe Schmidt’s 34-strong squad for next Sunday’s round three Six Nations match away to Italy.

However, his inclusion remained in jeopardy as he was under the threat of suspension until late Tuesday afternoon due to a citing that stemmed from his Ulster comeback last Friday night.

Henderson, who had missed the opening two rounds of the Six Nations due to a finger injury sustained during mid-January Champions Cup duty with Ulster, was declared fit for Ireland after playing the full 80 minutes of his provincial side’s league win over Ospreys at Bridgend.

However, that initial good news was tempered by Monday’s development that he was to face a league disciplinary hearing via video conference after he was cited for an allegedly dangerous ruck clearance in the 14th minute of his return to play.

A ban would have ruled him out of the Test selection shake-up to face Italy. But the disciplinary hearing committee, which sat in Edinburgh and comprised Roddy Dunlop (chair), Ian Douglas and Beth Dickens, reviewed the video clips and reports, heard explanations from the player and his representatives.

Henderson, who had been attempting a legitimate manoeuvre which was destabilised by another player, admitted an act of foul play had occurred as his arm had been around the shoulder and neck of an Ospreys opponent.

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The panel agreed that an act of foul play was proven. However, they considered it only merited a yellow card given the limited ability of Henderson to take avoiding action in a short space of time.

Because the act did not merit an on-field red card, the citing complaint was not upheld and it leaves Henderson in with the chance of playing for Ireland next weekend.

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Tom 33 minutes ago
Picking an in-form British & Irish Lions XV 1 month out from squad reveal

You can't compare apples and oranges. There have of course been Lions bolters who have gone on to be great players. Pollock could in another era or alternate universe be that guy but right now there are too many world class players in his position for him to get that opportunity. He's not in the top 4 flankers in the UK and Ireland yet.

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Tom 39 minutes ago
Picking an in-form British & Irish Lions XV 1 month out from squad reveal

Seems like this whole article was an excuse to put Pollock and Willis in a Lions backrow together. I don't think Pollock will even go on tour. He's already a great player and he's only going to get better but who are you leaving out to take him?


If Pollock and Willis are 2 of the 4 specialist flankers, for arguments sake let's say JVDF and Tom Curry are the others… so you're leaving potentially Ben Curry, Ben Earl and Jac Morgan at home but taking a kid with 1 cap off the bench? I really don't see it. Even if they find room for 5 flankers with Earl going as a hybrid you're leaving Jac Morgan and Ben Curry… and the fact that Jac Morgan is very likely to be picked so Wales have 1 or 2 players on the tour makes this even less likely. Imagine Farrell taking 4 English flankers including a kid with 30 mins test experience over Wales’ best player leaving them with potentially zero tourists. Plaid Cymru would be demanding a referendum! Pollock is the kind of kid who you'd take a punt on to be a Lions bolter in another cycle where there wasn't already a raft of world class, test hardened flankers to choose from. This time round his only realistic chance is an injury call up.

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Jacque 58 minutes ago
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Quins lost 64-0. Sarries got a 70 on the weekend???


Everyone “looks good” when EVERYONE else has an average defence system.

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JD Kiwi 1 hour ago
Geoff Parling: An Englishman roasting the Lions?

Great to see a true expert who knows that elapsed time is just as important as ball in play time 😂 Less opportunity to rest.

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JD Kiwi 1 hour ago
Geoff Parling: An Englishman roasting the Lions?

He's gone from geography teacher to professor hasn't he?


Good interviewer too!

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Timmyboy 2 hours ago
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I’m surprised Cole doesn’t get filled in more often with all his antics!

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Ed the Duck 2 hours ago
Geoff Parling: An Englishman roasting the Lions?

One of the best interviews I’ve read in some time, GP comes across as a real thinking man’s coach. Already had the view that the Lions tour wasn’t going to be the walkover many expect but with coaches like that and, by the sound of it, SL to come, it might just prove to be a proper contest after all!

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JD 3 hours ago
Glasgow's Henco Venter facing big ban after clip of incident goes viral

What is Venter supposed to do……he’s lying on the ground being choked by someone he can’t see. Obviously he’s going to try to fend off the choker - hardly a unique reaction. If he’s sanctioned it will be grossly unjust, but that’s what rugby has come to these days. And why is nothing said about Cole choking him around the neck, or is that OK because he’s English and Venter is South African?

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NB 3 hours ago
Geoff Parling: An Englishman roasting the Lions?

I didn’t ask about his contract, but I’m assuming he’d be done until the RWC in 2027, like Eoin Toolan. I hope the WBs keep him.


The great thing with Williams is that they can move him to 6 if Skelton plays 4, and that gives he WB a very imposing back five forwards.

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NB 3 hours ago
Geoff Parling: An Englishman roasting the Lions?

I think the WB set piece is fast emerging as one of the strengths of their game DM. Esp if they can include Will Skelton ofc. And get Taniela humming again!

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fl 4 hours ago
Picking an in-form British & Irish Lions XV 1 month out from squad reveal

Will Greenwood didn’t receive a single Lions test cap until 2005. Richard Webster never received a Lions test cap.


Dai Young got capped much sooner, but that actually has no bearing on whether Pollock will start or not. They are different players!

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JW 4 hours ago
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Required consistency for what? Isn’t this topic about being able to put in the effort to back up a win with another one? Do you think they’re playing well enough to go all the way if they can just be consistent or something?

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McMillan has consistency used 2-4 All Blacks as second half impact players in every game this season as well. I think Simon Parker is a very good player as well. Big, abrasive and a worker. Reminds me of Liam Squire.

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Koro Teeps 4 hours ago
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JW 4 hours ago
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Yeah would have to be a Lunch game for NZR to accept Perth as a destination. Would be best for Perth’s Dawn brigade though anyway so thats fine.

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Andrew Nichols 4 hours ago
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Thought he was a Canes signing

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JW 5 hours ago
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Oh, OK. Nice, some pretty detailed numbers. 3 mil to put on a test aye.


Yeah I wasn’t saying NZR threw away that much for themselves, just meant in general, for the game. So two million, 1 to NZR and 1 to it’s clubs (sure private business/companies), yeah, I can see where Horan’s coming from now, that’s about 50/50. I can also understand how 1mil might not be enough to make all the other bits worth it, and the clubs might have flat out rejected it (didn’t want 200k).


Thanks for enlightening me.

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Cantab 5 hours ago
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I was actually querying if they had the required consistency despite recent better form. They may have but still need to continue. At the crossroads really.

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