Rugby: O'Toole hit with six-match ban following inter-pro dismissal

Ulster's Tom O'Toole will miss the remaining Champions Cup pool matches through suspension following his red card in the home URC defeat to Munster last month.

The prop has been hit with a six-game ban for a dangerous clearout on Alex Nankivell and will also miss Ireland's opening two Six Nations clashes.

O’Toole’s ban has been backdated to include the win over Connacht over Christmas, and will see him sit out Ulster’s trip to Leicester this weekend and home game against Exeter Chiefs.

The 26-year-old is also out of his side's meeting with Zebre Parma, and the Six Nations opener at home to England and then the following match away to Scotland.

O’Toole will be available for Ireland’s remaining Six Nations games, having admitted that he’d committed an act of foul play that warranted a red card.

That admission earned him a 40 per cent mitigation, with judicial officer Sheriff Kathrine Mackie adjudging that the incident merited a 10-week suspension initially. A previous 2022 red card for foul play meant there was no further mitigation.