DUBLIN (AP) — Tadhg Beirne, the Ireland backrower, has been cleared to participate in the upcoming match against Japan this Saturday following the successful appeal of his red card. The decision to rescind the red card was announced after an independent disciplinary committee reviewed the incident on Tuesday. Beirne had initially received a yellow card for a high tackle on Beauden Barrett during the third minute of Ireland’s 26-13 loss to New Zealand in Chicago. The yellow card was subsequently upgraded to a 20-minute red card after a bunker review. However, the disciplinary committee concluded that while Beirne’s action constituted foul play, it did not warrant a red card. ‘Having considered the player’s and the other evidence and reviewed the footage, the disciplinary committee accepted the player’s submissions that whilst an act of foul play had occurred, it did not meet the red card threshold,’ stated the committee, as reported by the BBC. Ireland is set to face Australia and South Africa in additional test matches later this month.
