DISCIPLINARY UPDATE: DIARMUID BANNON (MUNSTER)

A Disciplinary Hearing has occurred related to the Red Card received by Munster player Diarmuid Bannon (No 2) during his team’s Round 17 United Rugby Championship fixture with Connacht on Saturday, May 9, 2026.

The Player was shown a yellow card by referee Peter Martin (IRFU) in the 17th minute of the match that was subsequently upgraded to a 20-minute Red Card after review.

The Player accepted that he had committed an act of foul play but that his actions did not merit a Red Card. The Independent Disciplinary Committee, comprising of Sheriff Kathrine Mackie (Chair, Scotland), Charles Samson (Scotland), Chris Watts (Wales) reviewed the incident and agreed that an act of foul play had occurred but found that the level of danger could not be clearly justified in order to upgrade the sanction to a red card.

As a result, the Red Card has not been upheld by the Disciplinary Committee and the Player is free to play this weekend.