Tadhg Furlong cleared over alleged groin grab in Leinster win
Ireland prop Tadhg Furlong has been cleared of foul play after an alleged groin grab on Munster back row Gavin Coombes during Leinster's United Rugby Championship win. A disciplinary panel met on Thursday and unanimously dismissed the complaint against him, so he will be available for Ireland's next matches.
Leinster beat Munster 24-18 at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday. The incident came in the 37th minute, and Coombes raised it with referee Andrew Brace during the first half. Brace did not award a penalty or send anyone off for it.
The television match official, Colin Stanley, reviewed the footage but could not find conclusive video evidence of a grab. That is why the matter was taken further. Furlong was cited for alleged foul play under Law 9.27. A citing is a formal complaint about conduct during a match that was not dealt with on the field.
Law 9.27 says a player must not do anything against the spirit of good sportsmanship. It names grabbing, twisting or squeezing the genitals as examples. The panel of Simon Thomas, Attie Heyns and Pamela Woodman found that Furlong had not committed foul play under that law. BBC Sport
The panel also said Coombes had given an honest account of what he recalled from the incident. Both players were treated with care in the process, and the outcome turned on the panel's finding under the law, not on the question of whether anyone had been untruthful.
Furlong is 33 and a three-time British and Irish Lions tourist. He plays tighthead prop, the front-row forward who packs down in the scrum on the right-hand side of the tunnel, opposite the opposing hooker's side. He has been a regular for Leinster and Ireland for many years, and his position puts him at the heart of the scrum contest.
With the case closed, Furlong can look ahead. He is available for Ireland's Nations Championship home matches against Argentina, Fiji and South Africa. He is also in line for the finals weekend fixture at Twickenham's Allianz Stadium.
For Coombes and Munster, the story is about how a concern is raised and handled. Raising a complaint with the referee in the first half is the usual route. From there, the match officials and the disciplinary system take over, and the process has now run its course.
