Ulster’s Declan Fitzpatrick given one-match ban

Ulster prop Declan Fitzpatrick will miss just one game after his red card in the 13-6 defeat to Zebre last weekend.

Fitzpatrick was sent off in the 11th minute of the game for striking Andrea Mancini of Zebre, but an independent Pro12 Rugby disciplinary committee today found the incident to be at "the low end of the IRB sanctions for the type of offence (Law 10.4(a): Striking another player with a hand, arm or fist)."

A statement read: “The committee, chaired by Simon Thomas, along with Terry Vaux and Robert Williams (all Wales), having viewed TV footage of the incident and listened to representations made by and on behalf of the player, found that the incident was at the low end of the IRB sanctions for the type of offence, carrying a two-week sanction.

“In the absence of any aggravating factors and in light of several compelling mitigating factors, including the player’s exemplary previous playing record, the committee applied a one week reduction from the entry point and suspended the player from playing for one week. “

“Declan Fitzpatrick is free to resume playing from Monday 6 October 2014 and has the right of appeal.”

Fitzpatrick will therefore sit out this Friday evening's game against Edinburgh, but will be available again for the visit of Glasgow Warriors to Belfast on Saturday week.