http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tq8XkUEyr8
Italy’s Leonardo Ghiraldini, who decided it was a good idea to stick his fingers into Cian Healy’s eye on Sunday, has been hit with a 15-week ban.
The 26-year-old hooker admitted the offence but denied it was deliberate. However, a an International Rugby Board hearing today slapped a massive ban on the player, leaving him out of action until January 17.
Italy were dumped out of the Rugby World Cup by Ireland in Dunedin but the ban will also apply to club rugby and the front-row will now miss five of Treviso’s games in the Heineken Cup, as well as RaboDirect PRO12 games, including Leinster’s trip to Italy to play Treviso on November 26.
Ghiraldini can be deemed somewhat lucky, as he could have faced a six-month ban but the ruling took into account his blemish-free record to date.
Check out the video above anyway and you can judge for yourself.
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