Ireland captain Sexton handed three-match suspension, cleared for World Cup

DUBLIN, July 16 (Reuters) – Ireland captain Johnny Sexton will be able to play at the World Cup after being handed a three-match suspension for his conduct towards match officials following May’s European Champions Cup final.

Despite being sidelined by injury for the tense 27-26 defeat to La Rochelle, the Leinster flyhalf made his way onto the field following the match and was captured on video engaging in a heated discussion with the officials.

“Johnny Sexton admitted Misconduct. The Disciplinary Committee found his behaviour confrontational and aggressive towards and disrespectful of the match officials, organisers,” European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR) said on Sunday.

Leinster were fined 7,500 pounds ($9,819).

Ireland, the world’s top ranked team, have three warm-up matches next month against Italy on Aug. 5, England on Aug. 19 and Samoa on Aug. 26. Sexton is, therefore, free to play from Aug. 27.

Andy Farrell’s men open their World Cup campaign in France with their two easier pool games against Romania and Tonga, before taking on holders South Africa on Sept. 23 and Scotland on Oct. 7. The quarter-finals begin a week later on Oct. 14.

Sexton is working his way back to fitness after requiring surgery on a groin injury sustained during Ireland’s Six Nations Grand Slam-securing win over England in March.

Ireland are hugely reliant on Sexton, the linchpin of the national team for over a decade who turned 38 this month.

While his understudy at Leinster, Ross Byrne, impressed when called upon during the Six Nations and Jack Crowley had a strong finish to Munster’s United Rugby Championship winning season, neither are at the same level as Sexton.

While the ban will impact the Irish skipper’s preparations, he has rarely needed much time to get up to speed following previous injuries and barely featured for Leinster last season before leading Ireland to the Grand Slam.

($1 = 0.7638 pounds)

Reporting by Padraic Halpin; additional reporting by Janina Nuno Rios
Editing by Toby Davis

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