O’Connell handed four-week ban

Paul O’Connell has come away from an independent ERC disciplinary committee today with a four-week suspension.

The Munster man had just made a comeback from a long-term injury when he was red carded during the province’s Heineken Cup win over the Ospreys on Saturday.

The red card was issued to O'Connell in the 69th minute by referee Christophe Berdos for a striking offence on Ospreys number eight Jonathan Thomas.

O’Connell will miss the return match with the Ospreys this weekend, and will also be unavailable for Munster's Magners League games with Connacht on 26 December, Ulster on 1 January and Glasgow Warriors on 8 January.